There are other things to write. I’d love to do a Dickens adaptation
Russell T Davies, Interview, page 24
Jeremy Hunt: culture secretary is leading the overhaul of the Communications Act
BBC A FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK
The BBC has one eye trained on the digital future, and is particu- larly keen that the government considers a flexible legislative framework that can react to changes in technology. With the Hargreaves report leading the way, the BBC will argue that any change to legislation should modernise the regime surround- ing intellectual property, ensur- ing that the incentive to create content is protected. For the BBC, the next Commu- nications Act should be “not just about making money, but about making content relevant”. The corporation has two main ambi- tions for the legislation: to make the UK the best place in the world to create high-quality content, and to ensure that there is universal access to a wide range of programmes.
“While economic
growth is important, it needs to be balanced with meeting the needs of UK consumers,” says a BBC insider.
UK animation: wants tax incentives
CHANNEL 4 PROTECTION FOR INNOVATION advertisers.
Unlike other broadcasters, Channel 4 recently had its remit expanded to cover digital con- tent. But the broadcaster still has a wishlist it would like to be examined, with guarantees around its independence and regulation of data and content featuring prominently. The starting point for C4 is
securing ongoing public owner- ship, but beyond that, it wants growth in innovation to be encouraged – it supports “the drive to deregulate”, C4 market- ing and communication director Dan Brooke said recently. Cross-platform innovation is
at the heart of C4, which is pro- viding the broadcaster with opportunities to collect its own data. C4 plans to use this infor- mation to change the way it interacts with viewers and
www.broadcastnow.co.uk
From those innovations “we will gain a deeper
understanding of our viewers and use it, not only to further hone our content, but to inno- vate our offering to advertisers,” Brooke said.
The broadcaster believes this
“new compact with our audi- ences can potentially underpin commercially funded PSB for the digital age”. But C4 wants backing for its
plans and the green light to pur- sue this strategy. Brooke said: “There are important questions to ask about it – such as who owns it [data] and who has access to it? The answers may prove complex, but they merit discussion.”
CHANNEL 5 BACKING THE PSB SYSTEM
Channel 5’s priorities for the Com- munications Act are to shore up existing public service broadcasting commitments and the free-to-air distribution of content. The broadcaster is keen to
avoid a lurch towards market-led solutions and any significant deregulation. It will use the initial consul tation to remind the govern- ment of the strength of the existing system. Martin Stott, head of
corporate and regulatory affairs for C5, says it pro- vides a sound commer- cial model and delivers value for viewers. “The PSB system is
a major driver of origi- nal content, which is available to all and free to use. The government should not discard that,” says Stott. He backs the original content
production and news output that PSB licences require. Stott warns that while the sys-
tem should evolve, it is vital that any PSB obligations specified are sustainable for the following 10-year period. “No private com- pany will bid for a licence if the terms are unsustainable,” he says. C5 also plans to highlight the
ongoing rollout of the free-to-air DTT platform and the benefits this brings to viewers. “People who value high-quality, free-to-air TV and don’t want to pay a subscription fee ought to be able to receive it. It is universal and provides competition to pay-TV plat-
forms,” he says. “DTT also plays an important role as we start to think about a multi- platform future.”
Jason Bradbury: host of hit C5 series The Gadget Show
1 July 2011 | Broadcast | 11
‘The next Act should be not just about making money, but about making content relevant’ BBC insider
The broadcaster’s two priori-
ties indicate the drawing of a line in the sand between PSBs and premium services such as Sky. “Competition for quality between the BBC and commercial broad- casters is essential and invest- ment in UK content has to be matched by the widespread avail- ability of that content, as well as the range and quality of services, on platforms such as connected TVs,” says the insider.
ANIMATION UK CREATING INCENTIVES
Lobby group Animation UK will argue that the government should include in the Communications Act “the right fiscal and regulatory environment” to shore up the animation sector. The body is seeking tax incen-
tives, in line with other countries and in the same vein as already exist for the film industry. As the modern world is interconnected, failing to match what is on offer in other territories is tantamount to handicapping the UK, it will argue. “Exports from the creative indus-
tries can be a key contributor to the UK economy,” the submission will say. “We need to ensure we address this misbalance in the mar- ket by creating an environment in which UK companies win business on the merit of the quality of work rather than being disadvantaged by foreign government incentives.”
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