STREAMERS VS PSBS PRODUCTION 100


SURVEY


AMAZON Amazon, Apple TV+ and HBO Max take joint fourth place, with 8.5% of the vote each – partly reflecting the fact that they have not commissioned as much from UK producers as the likes of Netflix and Discovery+. Some indies praise Amazon


for its “fast and helpful team,” “easy access and culture of creative collaboration,” and for being “quick to respond and understanding production.” But the negatives outweigh


the positives: “They don’t really know who they are yet,” says one indie. “They don’t reply, don’t seem to know what they should be or what they want,” says another scripted producer. Another drama producer bemoans them for being “creatively challenging and slow to respond.” “There’s a lack of leadership and clarity about commissioning priorities,” says yet another scripted indie.


APPLE TV+ Apple TV+, meanwhile, is “super responsive” and has a “very clear remit” and is “user friendly.” But others complain that they have “never managed to even secure a meeting” and that they “are not interested in small indies.”


HBO MAX HBO Max is lauded for its “ambition and collaboration” by one indie. It is “honest, even if you don’t always get the ‘yes’ that you want,” says another. “Pitching to them is always easy, and we have a fabulous relationship with all of their staff from operations, to legal, finance and buyers,” says one.


BBC Among the traditional broadcasters, the BBC – as ever – gets a varied report. Its position as the biggest commissioner in the UK means it is the focus of most indie opinion – and is


usually simultaneously voted the best and worst broadcaster. This year, it is slightly


different. The BBC is voted best UK broadcaster, but Channel 4 takes the crown as the hardest broadcaster to deal with, overtaking the BBC as the subject of most indie ire. 31% vote the BBC as the best broadcaster to deal with. On the plus side,


“there’s lots of channel opportunities” and “creativity is king”, say indies. Many cite “collaborative” and “supportive” commissioners. “They are nice to deal with and reasonable when things go wrong,” “the factual commissioning editors are generally excellent,” and “business affairs are generally helpful and reasonable despite the limitations of increasingly tight purse strings.” A comedy and entertainment


indie says “they are our favourites to make programmes with,” while a drama producer says they “have been incredibly supportive during the pandemic and willing to take risks on new writers. The negative comments


are those that have long been made about the BBC. As always, many focus on its “massive level of bureaucracy,” “labyrinthine commissioning structure,” and “slow decision making processes.” “There are too many middle


managers who are little more than post boxes. Decisions are endlessly delayed,” says one producer. “They are simply impenetrable,” says another. One complains that they “have failed to adapt to a competitive market place where commissioning structures and processes have shifted.” “There are so many complications with editorial policy, restricted budgets and now the regional and diversity quotas are presenting real challenges,” says one London based indie.


Autumn 2021 P48 televisual.com


THEY DON’T REPLY, OR SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD BE OR WHAT THEY WANT


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