Discussion document on the UK television production market - UK Government
16 April 2009As part of the Digital Britain review, Perspective was asked to assess the adequacy of the UK policy framework covering the acquisition of rights in audiovisual content by commissioning Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs), and the sharing of value in their subsequent exploitation between the commissioned producers and the commissioning broadcasters. We were also invited to consider whether there were broader issues in relation to the commissioning of digital content, and if so, to advise on how and where those issues might be addressed.
The report concluded that, while changing viewing patterns could mean the value of PSB commissions would accrue differently in future, with a shift away from 'first viewing' towards 'first use', broadcasters and producers should be able to negotiate arrangements to reflect this change without changes to the current policy framework. However, to enable this, regulatory guidance with which the broadcaster codes must comply should keep pace with the developments of the market. Consideration should also be given to whether some aspects of the current policy framework could be applied to commissioning for purely on-line material. Finally, consideration should also be given to copyright-related sources of revenue - from retransmission and re-use - that could be used to support the supply of public service content.
The report also set out a number of issues for Government, regulators and broadcasters, that arose from these conclusions.