‘C4 should film in Wales more to help economic growth’
CHANNEL 4 should make more programmes in Wales and establish a full-time presence here, the body representing independent TV production companies has told the UK government.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is running a consultation on whether Channel 4, as a publicly owned broadcaster, should increase the amount of content it commissions from the nations and regions and move its HQ out of London.
The aim is to find out how Channel 4 can most effectively contribute to regional economic growth, stimulate regional creative industries, and better serve regional audiences to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society.
TAC, which represents independent TV production companies in Wales, has published its submission to the consultation.
The trade association stops short of arguing for a full Channel 4 relocation, arguing that the key factor in making sure Channel 4 engages with the nations is how much it spends there, and also how much contact its programme commissioners have with the sector in Wales.
TAC’s submission calls for a phased approach to increasing spend, to go beyond Channel 4’s current requirement of 9% by 2020 to reach a target of 15% by 2025 and 19% by 2030.
It also calls for Channel 4 to publish annually a timetable of regular commissioning meetings in each nation, including both north and south Wales, with commissioners across all genres.
And it argues that the broadcaster should have a permanent presence in Wales, either in terms of commissioning staff or an “indie liaison”, who can make sure Wales’ indie sector has a level playing-field when seeking to engage with the channel.
Describing how increasing programming from Wales could enhance Channel 4’s diversity, TAC’s submission says: “Examples could be programmes on the annual Eisteddfod festival, Welsh music concerts, plus Channel 4 could be commissioning more content that reflects Wales’ incomparable rural environment. For example, the internationally acclaimed Y Gwyll/ Hinterland [a thriller drama series], made by the Welsh indie Fiction Factory, has mainstream appeal while showcasing the unique Welsh landscape and way of life in mid Wales, plus other cultural touchstones which help create its unique and captivating atmosphere.”
TAC chairman Iestyn Garlick said: “Channel 4’s own recently published initial response to the consultation shows how little it does to reach out to the sector in Wales. It held only two events, covering a limited amount of genres, in the whole of 2016, and both of those were in Cardiff.
“One thing is clear in this process; the status quo is not an option. We ask the government to focus less on where Channel 4’s HQ is and more on where and how it spends its money.
“The key way for Channel 4 to better represent the UK is to make sure indie production companies in every part of the UK have a fair chance to pitch their ideas and have them commissioned.”
DCMS is considering the evidence and says it will determine the best way forward through discussion with the broadcaster to ensure that Channel 4 “maximises its delivery of public value for the country as a whole”.