Culture secretary Karen Bradley has announced a new multi-million pound fund to increase the range of childen’s television in the UK.
The £60 million fund will be available for content creators to receive up to 50 per cent of the production and distribution costs of original TV shows.
While aimed at content broadcast on the commercial public service broadcasters (ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, other free and widely available channels and on-demand platforms, and potentially also online.
While pay-TV platforms including Sky, Virgin and Netflix have all courted children through their parents, the amount spent by the PSBs has been in decline with spending falling by £55 million.
“High quality children’s television is not only entertaining but plays a vital role in stimulating learning and giving young people a greater understanding of the world around them.
“This significant investment will give our world-renowned television production sector the boost it needs to create innovative content for a wider audience that would otherwise not be made,” said culture secretary Karen Bradley.
The cash will be distributed over three years as part of a pilot starting in 2019. Programmes from new and diverse backgrounds, and those made in the nations and regions, will be a particular focus.
The fund’s introduction was welcomed by John McVay, Chief Executive of independent producers’ organisation PACT. “Pact has long campaigned for increased investment in original children’s content to incentivise new entrants to the market. This along with the introduction of the PSB criteria through the Digital Economy Act, will encourage the commercial PSBs back to the table and foster new talent.”
The funding for the pilot has been made available as a result of unspent funds from the previous licence fee settlement.
