TV Fest brings good news for regional production

[Nicola More]

“Channel 4 is issuing the biggest creative call to arms in the history of independent production.” This was the challenge laid down by Head of Channel 4 Julian Bellamy at this year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.
Speaking of the broadcaster’s decision to call it a day on Big Brother 11 years after it first hit our screens, Julian pointed out that its loss also brings an opportunity. “The voice of a new generation emerged a decade ago, albeit quite by accident,” he said. “Out of that strange alchemy came the quintessential things that are so Channel 4. Yet our decision to call it a day frees up £20m worth of commissioning money for new shows – it’s the catalyst for a wholesale creative look at all we do.”

Julian called on indies to push the envelope with fresh new ideas, be they for comedy, entertainment, live events or drama. “The thing we’re after is the thing I can’t think of,” he said.

Producers in the nations and regions are particularly well placed to capitalise on this opportunity, with Julian re-affirming his commitment to out of London production. “The mindset that out of London production is boring is a thing of the past,” he said. “Actually it’s a huge commissioning opportunity and there’s a wealth of talent in the nations and regions, which makes it a very exciting place to be right now.”

Some other highlights of the TV Festival…

*Hamish Mykura, head of More 4, and Angela Jain, head of E4, picked out their highlights from the autumn schedule. Hamish chose ‘When Boris Met Dave’, a new docu-drama which tells how Boris Johnson and David Cameron got to know each other at Eton and then Oxford. On E4, Angela points to new drama series ‘Misfits’, in which a group of teens on community service reluctantly try to save their town after developing superhero powers.

*Channel 4 Chief Executive Andy Duncan called on the BBC to “open up even more” to independent production, arguing that its current 50% limit should be increased.

*Sky’s James Murdoch sparked furious debate and newspaper headlines with a bold keynote speech arguing in favour of a payment model for news and accusing the BBC of “throttling the news market”. A number of commentators came to the BBC’s defence - including Channel 4’s Andy Duncan - and the debate became the hot topic of Saturday’s sessions.

*Old arguments recurred in ‘PSB: An Insider’s Guide’, which brought together Caroline Thomson (BBC), John Cresswell (ITV), Andy Duncan (Channel 4) and Dawn Airey (Five). Caroline re-asserted the BBC’s position that the license fee is “not to be used as a slush fund”, while her co-panellists argued that if we want plurality in public service broadcasting, there must be some sharing of resources.