Category Archives: Quotas

The state of the UK film and TV economy

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Paul Evans

I occasionally get asked for updates on the general state of the UK film and TV sector, and I can usually reply offering a few links which general readers may find useful. My first, and most current link would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, Economics, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Low budget features, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax incentives, TV Advertising, UK studios | Tagged , | Leave a comment

UK independent productions, the inflation punch-in-the-mouth, and the very European remedies.

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Paul Evans

The boxer, Mike Tyson, was once asked about his plan for a fight and he answered; “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Economists have a variation on that line: “Everyone has a plan until inflation … Continue reading →

Posted in EU & Brexit, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Low budget features, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax incentives, UK studios | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

EU Media Freedom Act – just published

Posted on September 9, 2022 by Paul Evans

My thanks to Carole Tongue for sending this to me. The EU’s ‘Media Freedom Act’ has been published and the text will be voted on by the European Commission on 13 September before being submitted to the Parliament and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, EU & Brexit, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Skills shortages in film & TV – update

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Paul Evans

There’s a useful roundup in the i-Paper showing the scale of the studio expansion and growing physical production capacity that the UK has, in contrast to the roster of available skills which will leave an estimated “40,000 workers needed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Quotas, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax incentives, UK studios | Tagged , | Leave a comment

BFI Screen Business report details the scale of the UK production boom

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

Anyone who has any doubts about the size and scale of the UK production boom can have a look at the latest BFI Screen Business report (if the annual Pact Census most recently published in September wasn’t convincing enough!). The … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Economics, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax incentives, UK studios | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A distinctly British focus for TV programmes

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Paul Evans

David Tennant has been questioning some of the arguments around demands for ‘distinctly British programmes (or ‘lovely jubbly telly‘ as John Whittingdale didn’t say recently). “Is there some inherent criticism within this plea for more Britishness?” he said in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, EU & Brexit, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

UK radio to get ‘discoverability’ boost on smart speakers

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

Regulators have a number of tools at their fingertips. They can offer tax breaks linked to cultural tests. They can tell TV channels that a percentage of their content should be made within a particular jurisdiction. They can oblige distribution … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Quotas, Radio, Regulation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Yet another big streamer eyes European markets

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

This time, it’s Paramount +. “In the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria (GSA), for example, Paramount Plus will launch on Sky platforms. Craig explained that according to the deal, Paramount Plus and Comcast/ViacomCBS streaming co-venture SkyShowtime will be … Continue reading →

Posted in EU & Brexit, Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

French cultural policy

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

France has always had an interesting, and different approach to cultural policy to the UK’s equivalent. In thinking about this last night, I remembered this 2013 document [pdf] from the Coalition Francaise and I thought I’d bookmark it here. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Copyright & Intellectual Property, Culture policy, Diversity of representation, Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

More on UK/US unscripted production partnerships

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

Futher to the recent post about Netflix partnerships with UK PSBs, NBC Universal has also done an unscripted formats deal with the BBC.

Posted in Factual & Entertainment sector data, Film & TV industry data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

France places new obligations on video-on-demand providers

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

From the European Audiovisual Observatory: “In future, VOD services must devote at least 20% of the turnover they generate in France to the funding of European or French cinematographic and audiovisual production. The proportion is increased to 25% for services … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Free database of legal developments in the Europen audiovisual sector

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

This one is probably only useful to massive geeks (hi!) but I’m telling you about it anyway just in case you find it useful. The European Audiovisual Observatory maintains a database of legal developments in all key areas, all key … Continue reading →

Posted in Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Cultural Diversity arguments against Channel Four privatisation

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

The UK Coalition for Cultural Diversity (UKCCD) have published their submission to the consultation on Channel Four privatisation here [pdf]. It makes a key point that should concern Bectu members who are concerned about the quality of the content that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, UK studios | Tagged , | Leave a comment

TV with an American accent?

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

A strong piece in the FT[£] here from John Gapper, outlining how strong SVoD investment in locally-set programmes may be a mirage – an attempt to build the subscriber base that can subsequently be fed content that is less rooted … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD | Tagged , | Leave a comment

French windows (excuse the pun)

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Paul Evans

There are a few posts up here about how content regulation drives investment into film and TV, how the AVMS Directive is translated into national legislation and regulations, and on the general armoury that national governments have to shape the … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ampere Analysis – strong case against privatisation of Channel Four

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

A strong thread here from Ampere Analysis, and a detailed report of their findings is here in The Guardian. Ampere has assessed a range of potential options surrounding the privatisation of @Channel4. Here is what we found: — Ampere Analysis … Continue reading →

Posted in Factual & Entertainment sector data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, Sports rights and broadcasting, SVoD | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Is UK audiovisual content about to hit a perfect storm?

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

I’d suggest that there is an emerging picture of where UK production is likely to head in the next few years, and it’s one that should worry us – particularly from the point of view of cultural diversity (which is … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax incentives, UK studios | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

How AVMS applies in every EU country

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

The Audio Visual Media Services (AVMS) Directive, like all EU Directives, is translated into national legislation and regulation by the member states concerned. The European Audiovisual Observatory tracks all of this on this table here. (H/T Carole Tongue for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cultural Diversity is not just about limiting discrimination – it’s an economic and industrial factor

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

It’s worth bookmarking Unesco’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions here. This is an important global statement on the need for cultural expressions to be produced, distributed, and owned ‘locally’ (in the Nations and … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Economics, Equality, EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Gender equality, Gender representation, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Race equality, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives, UK studios, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Study on financial investment obligations placed on VOD providers in Europe.

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Paul Evans

This, from Dr Marlen Komorowski of Cardiff University for the The Media & Society Programme of SMIT. It looks at the way VOD providers are subject to various financial investment obligations (one of the key forms of regulation and incentive … Continue reading →

Posted in EU & Brexit, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ofcom shenanigans – update

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

The film and TV industries, it’s probably true to say that it’s more important to beat regulators than it is to beat competitors. If a regulator has a particular set of prejudices, it can be very bad for the industry … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

BBC and Creative Wales partnership to boost Welsh TV industry

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Paul Evans

Following a prompt from Carwyn Donovan, I see that the BBC are reporting a new partnership – a formal agreement – between the BBC and Creative Wales. Carwyn and the Bectu reps in Wales have built a strong relationship with … Continue reading →

Posted in Factual & Entertainment sector data, Film & TV industry data, High End TV data, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Theatre Tax Relief paid out £74 million to 3,660 productions last year

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

According to The Stage [£]… “This represents a £3 million increase on the figure paid out in 2019/20, which was £71 million, and comes amid calls for the tax credit to be increased to help the sector recover after the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation & VFX, Culture policy, EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax, Tax incentives, Theatre and Live Events data | Tagged | Leave a comment

Edinburgh TV Festival debates C4 sell-off

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

Broadcast has a report here [£]. In a statement that my be dismissed as hyperbole, John Thoday of Avalon says C4 privatisation will “kill the indie sector” and calls for the government to give C4 in it’s current form a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Channel 4 and mutual ownership – Labour proposal

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Paul Evans

There have been quite a few posts on here already about C4 privatisation. This is an interesting twist, from The Co-operative Party (sister-party to the UK Labour Party) – proposing that control of Channel 4 could (via Broadcast [£]) be … Continue reading →

Posted in Film & TV industry policy, Ownership & Control, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How cultural regulation drives investment

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Paul Evans

Carole Tongue of UKCCD has been in touch with a reminder for how we can regulate streaming platforms for increased investment in British drama/film and documentary. It gives guidance on what the Canadian broadcasting regulator should consider when addressing cultural … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Feature film data, High End TV data, Quotas, Regulation, Tax incentives | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

UK viewers more immune to charms of US big names

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

Interesting stat here. It may reinforce the arguments around the UK’s expectation of watching British stories instead of ‘global’ content. Survey Says: What Consumers Overseas Want From Streaming Services https://t.co/YlzIAqmmEG pic.twitter.com/KhPyFw5Y9U — Variety (@Variety) July 30, 2021

Posted in Film & TV industry policy, Quotas, Regulation | Tagged , | 1 Comment

British content projecting Britain

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Paul Evans

I’ll be posting more on this in the coming weeks, but there are some very big concerns circulating even in Conservative circles about the potential damage that the UK could sustain due to changes in the film and TV industry. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation & VFX, BBC, Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Culture policy, EU & Brexit, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax incentives, The Conservative Party, UK studios | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

“Gogglebox presents people like us and is made in Britain for Britain”

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Paul Evans

I knew I’d seen a good defence of Channel 4’s Public Service Broadcaster remit, but I couldn’t remember where until I visited the VLV website earlier and saw this [pdf] from Channel 4’s CEO Alex Mahon. “Online business cannot fill … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, SVoD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ofcom calls for stronger system of public service media fit for the digital age

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

A strong position from Ofcom here – particularly in the current climate (with C4 privatisation firmly on the table) “Public service content matters – but it’s under increasing threat.” From the Ofcom site: “Ofcom is today recommending a radical overhaul … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Regulation and Policy related to audiovisual works – an overview.

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

These are my notes on a presentation from Maja Cappello – Head of Department for Legal Information – ‘European Audiovisual Observatory on Regulation and Policy related to theatrical and non-theatrical production.’ There are two initial key questions when we think about … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

European Audiovisual Observatory industry stats handbooks

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

European Audiovisual Observatory 2020-2021 Key Trends [PDF] World Film Market Trends (coming soon – here) Previous editions are here.

Posted in EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged | Leave a comment

Cannes panel on ‘cinema to sofa?’ shift

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

There was a good European Audiovisual Observatory panel as part of the Cannes Festival held online. The programme can be seen here. Short version of this post: The idea that streaming + pandemic changes to behaviour is too simplistic – … Continue reading →

Posted in Copyright & Intellectual Property, Culture policy, EU & Brexit, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas | Tagged , | 2 Comments

European TV markets, post Brexit

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

The number of TV channels based in the UK halves post-Brexit but the UK remains leading AV market in Europe – @EuAvObservatory's public report for all to review here: https://t.co/k8mw01EoaA — UKCCD (@UKCCD1) July 2, 2021  

Posted in EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How Brexit could effect drama exports

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Paul Evans

More on the Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) EU broadcast quotas. “Last year, EU countries agreed that 30% of offerings on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime should be European-made. The concern among some EU capitals is that currently the … Continue reading →

Posted in EU & Brexit, High End TV data, Quotas, SVoD | Tagged , | Leave a comment