LONDON—In a bold pivot toward educational content, the BBC announced Tuesday that its commercial arm, BBC Storyworks, had launched a lavish web series entitled “Modern Marvels: Saudi Arabia’s Empowered Woman… And Her Male Guardian,” in partnership with the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

The series, which features glossy shots of women walking several feet behind men and wind turbines spinning valiantly in otherwise barren oil fields, has been praised by Saudi officials and a handful of British consultants who requested anonymity “for obvious reasons.”

“We were delighted to partner with the BBC, a network that understands nuanced storytelling, like editing out any inconvenient footage of our vice squads,” said Khalid Bin Trustworthy, Senior Image Laundering Officer at PIF. “Viewers will see that Saudi Arabia is not just about camels and fossil fuels. We also have camels powered by green hydrogen now.”

BBC Storyworks Editor-in-Chief Lucinda Softfocus defended the programming, stressing its objectivity: “Our films simply highlight the stunning new women’s driving schools, where women may now drive in circles in a secure, windowless compound.”

When asked about accusations of propaganda, a BBC spokesperson replied: “Our only agenda is to provide engaging, sponsored content, preferably from petro-states with deep pockets and spotty Wi-Fi. The documentary about Saudi Arabia’s LGBTQ+ nightlife is coming 2043.”

At press time, BBC was reportedly entertaining offers from North Korea for a limited series on “Kim Jong Un’s Vegan Brunch Cafés and Skate Parks.”