SURVEY


PRODUCTION 100 THE BROADCASTERS broadcaster reputations


Which broadcasters and streamers do producers think are best and hardest to deal with? Here indies reveal how they are treated by their commissioning clients


E


best broadcaster


I 2


3= 3= 5


BBC


Channel 4 ITV Sky


Channel 5


2O22 29% 21% 12% 12% 9%


2O21 31% 11% 25% 9% 5%


ach year the Production 100 asks producers what they think about their broadcaster and streamer clients. On a strictly off the record basis, we ask indies to name the best and worst broadcasters they deal with – and to explain their thinking. The quotes below are all genuine responses from indies to the Production 100 – although we’ve taken out the names of the respondents to preserve their anonymity. We start with the broadcasters first, and then move on to the streaming platforms.


The PSBs


best streamer


I


2 3


4= 4= 6


Netflix Amazon Disney+ Discovery+ HBO Max Paramount+


2O22 40% 19% 17.5% 7% 7% 4%


2O21 49% 8.5% 11% 15% 8.5% -


The BBC As ever, the BBC gets a varied report from indie producers, emerging simultaneously as the best and hardest broadcaster to deal with. Its position as the biggest commissioner in the UK means it’s the focus of most indie opinion. There’s been a slight


deterioration in how the corporation is viewed by indies. It’s voted the best broadcaster with a 29% score, down from 31% last year. But it’s also the worst, with 35% of the vote.


On the plus side, the BBC is described as supportive, knowledgeable and collaborative – and open to ideas. “They’ll never get everything right – but cometh the hour, cometh


Autumn 2022 P31 televisual.com


the BBC recently,” says one indie. “We continue to love working with them – creatively, commercially and when launching shows together.” “They usually make the


riskiest choices when it comes to commissions, but this pays off as they make the majority of the best homegrown British drama,” adds one scripted indie. “Response times from commissioners can be slow, but overall the commissioners give good notes and support and are also approachable.”


Another indie cites “the clear steers and support their very smart and able team of commissioners” from the BBC’s unscripted department.


Indies also cite the BBC’s push


for diversity and regionality across production and development. Several praise the BBC for being great partners and always supporting producers. “We enjoy a very productive relationship with them,” says one. Elsewhere, the praise is


lukewarm. “Its processes are the most transparent, but only just. We have become increasingly concerned about the conflict of interest at play between BBC Commissioning and BBC Studios.” On the flip side, the BBC


bureaucracy once again comes under fire, with indies criticising slow decision making and too many layers of management. “There are layers upon layers of bureaucracy which slow down the development, commissioning, and production


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