Recommendation 20

HM Government Deferred

The Government has been consistent in its aim to support Channel 4’s long term sustainability alongside measures to protect the wider production ecosystem, which is a British success story. On 8 November the Government announced a package of mitigations to accompany the removal of Channel 4’s publisher-broadcaster restriction. The Government worked closely with producers of all sizes and from across the whole of the UK on the mitigations, including through a Call for Input, which will safeguard Channel 4’s important role driving investment into the sector in the event they choose to start a production business. This will include increasing Channel 4’s independent production quota from 25% to 35% of qualifying programmes (that is, from 450 hours to 625 hours), and new measures to ensure fair and open access to Channel 4’s commissions with oversight from Ofcom. Channel 4’s support for producers across the whole of the UK remains a priority for this Government. We therefore welcome Channel 4’s commitment to continue to spend at least 50% of their budget for main channel commissions outside of London (against the 35% requirement in their licence), and that this will not be affected by the removal of their publisher-broadcaster restriction. The level of Channel 4’s regional programme making quotas is set by Ofcom. Ofcom will consider whether any changes are required to these quotas as part of their consultation on the terms of the next Channel 4 licence. This Media Bill also includes a requirement for Ofcom to review the impact of Channel 4 starting a production business, should they choose to do so, on the fulfilment of the public service remit for television, as part of one of their five-yearly reviews of the UK’s PSB system. That remit, which will be updated by the Media Bill, includes requirements about the range and amount of independent productions, as well as the range and amount of programmes made outside of London.