Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> UK’s commercial TV Broadcasting ... as a whole! http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1586258968 Message started by JohnW on Apr 7^th, 2020, 11:30am

Title: UK’s commercial TV Broadcasting ... as a whole!
Post by JohnW on Apr 7^th, 2020, 11:30am

Report warns of a "bleak future and permanent change" ahead for UK’s commercial TV sector unless the government helps.

A new report from Enders Analysis has warned the UK’s commercial TV sector faces a “bleak future” unless the government intervenes.

The report warned that a combination of declining advertising revenue and a shutdown in filming had left broadcasters and the production sector facing “permanent change.”

It added that commercial TV companies are expected to face their biggest ever year-on-year decline in advertising revenue for the second quarter of 2020, suggesting it could decline by as much as 40 per cent.

Also, JP Morgan warns of downturn in European media sector.

The report calls for increased government support in the form of advertising spend, including a firm commitment to continue with its health campaigns over the coming months, while increasing its spend, which Enders said would “go a small way to propping up the advertising market.”

Enders also suggested a loosening of Channel 4’s programming obligations, as well as revisions to existing measures (to capture a greater proportion of freelancers) in order to ensure a “flourishing, vibrant sector for the future.”

ITV and Channel 4 have both issued warnings over the decline in advertising.
ITV has scrapped its dividend and director bonuses, and said "its entire board will take a 20 per cent pay cut."
Channel 4 is expected to do the same.

by Jenny Priestley
Published April 7, 2020

Title: Re: UK’s commercial TV Broadcasting ... as a whole!
Post by Dickie Mint on Apr 8^th, 2020, 4:35pm

From twitter:

"Grim reading from Channel 4:
- Says TV market will be down 50% in April + May
- Channel 4, E4, More4 content cancelled / delayed
- Budget expect to be reduced by £150m
- £95m savings to be made across organisation
- 10% of staff poss furloughed
- Board members take 20% pay cut"

Can't help thinking if they hadn't ramped up the price for Great British Bake Off they wouldn't have so much of a problem.

Title: Re: UK’s commercial TV Broadcasting ... as a whole!
Post by Burstner55 on Apr 11^th, 2020, 6:04pm

Don't know about you but our TV has seldom seen such down time as it has since late March. I don't think any of the TV broadcasters, BBC or commercial, are covering themselves in glory in this crisis.