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UK multi-channel sector £5bn industry
By Colin Mann
The UK’s status as an international centre for broadcasting and television production is on the ascendancy supported by growth of the multichannel sector now worth £5 billion a year with broadcasters drawn by the UK’s creative flair and production capability, according to a new report compiled by Communications Chambers, a leading media consultancy, on behalf of the Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA) – the industry body for commercial sector broadcasters in the UK and their on-demand services – and report sponsors the British Film Commission and Film London.
According to COBA, with the majority of international broadcasters basing their European headquarters in the UK, multichannel broadcasters have helped provide the critical mass the UK needs to compete globally and as a result has become a leading exporter of TV. The UK multichannel sector now broadcasts 127 non-UK channels to the rest of the world. London is at the heart of this booming TV economy with employment in the industry doubling over the last decade to 12,300.
In addition, inward production investment, supported by the new tax reliefs for high end TV and animation, is leading to sustained investment in UK studios and facilities, as well as production itself.
Furthermore, the report found that of those involved in commissioning and production in the relevant genres of high end TV and animation, 62 per cent (where reliefs are applicable) of companies surveyed plan to increase investment in the UK following the introduction of the new tax reliefs.
In all genres, the UK’s multichannel sector has increased investment in UK content by nearly 30 per cent in the last three years, with seven out of 10 international broadcasters committing to increasing investment further over the next five years.
Multichannel broadcasters are key to the UK production community and provide access to global funding with non-UK sources becoming increasingly important. Production financing from a multichannel’s non-UK operations has grown to 35 per cent in 2012, up considerably on 2011. Two thirds (67 per cent) of UK multichannels now commission content for both domestic and international audiences.
Multichannel broadcasters also disproportionately supported smaller ‘indies’. 33 per cent of spend was on smaller independent producers (with turnover of less than £25m), more than the BBC (26 per cent), ITV (18 per cent) and Channel 4 (20 per cent).
Dee Forbes, COBA chair and President and Managing Director, Discovery Networks Western Europe, said the UK TV industry was a world-renowned success story, but ensuring its ongoing global competitiveness would be key to future growth. “As this report shows, the multichannel sector is crucial to the UK’s ability to compete globally, providing scale and the ability to unlock international markets.”
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said the reported highlighted that London and the UK’s world-renowned creative talent and production base gave a huge advantage in encouraging domestic commissioning and investment, as well as crucially attracting finance and production from abroad. “Combine this creative flair with other key factors such as our infrastructure and a competitive market, and the UK is perfectly placed as a global TV hub.”
Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, said the UK had a world-class TV industry, but this couldn’t be taken for granted. “ As this report shows, future success depends on maximising global as well as domestic opportunities. The commercial broadcasting sector is already an important factor in ensuring the UK can compete globally; industry and the government can work together to harness its growing contribution to the UK.”
COBA’s members include Bloomberg, BSkyB, Chinese Channel, Discovery Networks, Fox International Channels, NBCUniversal, QVC, Sony Pictures Television, Turner Broadcasting System, Viacom International Media Networks and the Walt Disney Company.
By Colin Mann
The UK’s status as an international centre for broadcasting and television production is on the ascendancy supported by growth of the multichannel sector now worth £5 billion a year with broadcasters drawn by the UK’s creative flair and production capability, according to a new report compiled by Communications Chambers, a leading media consultancy, on behalf of the Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA) – the industry body for commercial sector broadcasters in the UK and their on-demand services – and report sponsors the British Film Commission and Film London.
According to COBA, with the majority of international broadcasters basing their European headquarters in the UK, multichannel broadcasters have helped provide the critical mass the UK needs to compete globally and as a result has become a leading exporter of TV. The UK multichannel sector now broadcasts 127 non-UK channels to the rest of the world. London is at the heart of this booming TV economy with employment in the industry doubling over the last decade to 12,300.
In addition, inward production investment, supported by the new tax reliefs for high end TV and animation, is leading to sustained investment in UK studios and facilities, as well as production itself.
Furthermore, the report found that of those involved in commissioning and production in the relevant genres of high end TV and animation, 62 per cent (where reliefs are applicable) of companies surveyed plan to increase investment in the UK following the introduction of the new tax reliefs.
In all genres, the UK’s multichannel sector has increased investment in UK content by nearly 30 per cent in the last three years, with seven out of 10 international broadcasters committing to increasing investment further over the next five years.
Multichannel broadcasters are key to the UK production community and provide access to global funding with non-UK sources becoming increasingly important. Production financing from a multichannel’s non-UK operations has grown to 35 per cent in 2012, up considerably on 2011. Two thirds (67 per cent) of UK multichannels now commission content for both domestic and international audiences.
Multichannel broadcasters also disproportionately supported smaller ‘indies’. 33 per cent of spend was on smaller independent producers (with turnover of less than £25m), more than the BBC (26 per cent), ITV (18 per cent) and Channel 4 (20 per cent).
Dee Forbes, COBA chair and President and Managing Director, Discovery Networks Western Europe, said the UK TV industry was a world-renowned success story, but ensuring its ongoing global competitiveness would be key to future growth. “As this report shows, the multichannel sector is crucial to the UK’s ability to compete globally, providing scale and the ability to unlock international markets.”
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said the reported highlighted that London and the UK’s world-renowned creative talent and production base gave a huge advantage in encouraging domestic commissioning and investment, as well as crucially attracting finance and production from abroad. “Combine this creative flair with other key factors such as our infrastructure and a competitive market, and the UK is perfectly placed as a global TV hub.”
Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, said the UK had a world-class TV industry, but this couldn’t be taken for granted. “ As this report shows, future success depends on maximising global as well as domestic opportunities. The commercial broadcasting sector is already an important factor in ensuring the UK can compete globally; industry and the government can work together to harness its growing contribution to the UK.”
COBA’s members include Bloomberg, BSkyB, Chinese Channel, Discovery Networks, Fox International Channels, NBCUniversal, QVC, Sony Pictures Television, Turner Broadcasting System, Viacom International Media Networks and the Walt Disney Company.