How we invested in ‘golden era’ of British television
WE ARE living in a golden age for British television and tonight’s TV BAFTAS will showcase the very best we have to offer. Incredible dramas from Succession to The Crown. Remarkable broadcasts of events, including Eurovision and the Coronation concert.
And unforgettable performances from actors like David Tennant in Good Omens and Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley.
But what do shows like The Crown, Top Boy, Happy Valley and The Gold all have in common? Yes, they’re all critically acclaimed. Yes, they’re all nominated for a BAFTA.
But what many people won’t know is that they’ve all been supported by this Conservative Government’s tax reliefs.
Tax reliefs are a major reason behind the boom in creative programming and productions on our screens. They tell the world how seriously we take our Creative Industries and give us a competitive edge over other major European and North American rival countries.
Since high-end television tax relief was introduced in 2013, we have backed 925 programmes with support worth £10.9billion.
And the figures are even more impressive when it comes to film. Since we introduced film tax reliefs in 2007, they have supported over 4,250 films with £21.6 billion.
By encouraging and incentivising investment into UK studios and productions, these tax breaks have helped to strengthen every part of our TV and film ecosystem.
They have pulled in major companies, encouraged studios to take risks with distinctive content and created a breeding ground for talent. The results are plain to see.
Jobs, growth, investment and exports.
As of 2021, our TV production sector was worth almost £7billion.
Meanwhile, revenues for our brilliant independent production sector reached their highest ever level of nearly £4billion in 2022.
And our television industry has been a true levelling up success story. Hertfordshire today rivals Hollywood, with some of the
world’s biggest studios making the region their home away from home. But it’s far from alone.
We now have clusters of TV excellence in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, all creating jobs and helping inspire young people to try to follow in the footsteps of those in their communities already forging careers in TV.
So, while the Labour Party takes every opportunity to talk Britain down, I want to celebrate – loudly and proudly – the huge contribution TV makes to our economy, both locally and nationally.
Like any sector, there are challenges. The actors and writers strikes in America had knock-on implications for our industry and created some uncertainty.
Fluctuations in advertising revenues also have an impact, particularly on freelancers who are an important part of the TV labour force. But, despite these challenges, TV is undeniably a core part of what makes us a cultural and creative superpower.
As Culture Secretary, one of my top priorities is finding new ways to extend our reputation for excellence and strengthen the foundations. It is not enough for us to dominate and set the creative weather for a few years. Our focus has to be on staying at the forefront for decades to come.
That is why we supported both our TV and film industries through Covid as part of one of the largest relief packages in the world, and through a dedicated Restart Scheme to help companies in the
sector get back on their feet after Covid. That is why the Chancellor extended and introduced a range of Creative Industries tax reliefs at the Budget, including for visual effects and independent film.
And that is why I set out a Creative Industries Vision last year, with a blueprint to grow Creative Industries by £50 billion and a million jobs by 2030, while creating a pipeline of talent for the future.
COMPANIES recognise that we have a long term plan. As you read this today, the biggest players in the TV industry – companies like Amazon, Netflix, Disney and Apple – are all expanding their footprint in the UK and looking to grasp opportunities to add “Made in Britain” to their productions.
Studios like Pinewood in Hertfordshire are investing hundreds of millions of pounds in expansion.
Studios like Shinfield are getting ready to start filming new shows and films in Berkshire.
And Sunderland recently got the green light to build Crown Works Studios, as part of a major redevelopment of Wearside, paving the way for thousands of new creative jobs in the region.
There has never been a better time to make television in the UK and awards like the TV BAFTAS, and last week’s BAFTA Television Craft Awards, play a pivotal role in shining a light on the talent in front of the screen and behind it.
We have a plan to keep that talent thriving long into the future.
“The biggest players in the TV industry – Amazon, Netflix, Disney and Apple – are all expanding their f ootprint ” in the UK