In the news this week, TV giants are declining to pay annual fees to UK independent bullying and harassment complaints body CIISA following power abuse scandals, Edinburgh TV Foundation to offer incentives for improving access to working class professionals, and Channel 5 is reviving BBC’s Play for Today to ‘help shape future of British drama.’
Read about it in this week’s Digest.
News
• Creative UK has published a paper outlining a vision for the newly announced Freelance Champion role in UK Government – starting with a series of formal, structured inquiries into the major systemic barriers freelancers face. (Televisual) In response to the paper, Directors UK CEO Andy Harrower says:
“Freelancers have been consistently overlooked and underrepresented. They have a precarious existence and are often exposed to risk and poor treatment, despite being the powerhouse behind our £125bn a year creative industries.
“Directors UK contributed to and welcomes the key proposals for the Freelance Champion outlined in Creative UK’s paper. As members of the DCMS working group responsible for shaping the remit of the role, we look forward to driving change towards an improved, sustainable, and inclusive landscape for our members and other creative freelancers.”
• C4 head of news and current affairs Louisa Compton has said that Channel 4 rather than Netflix is the ‘proud parent’ of runaway hit Adolescence. “It wouldn’t have happened without Channel 4 and other PSBs ... We’ve developed and nurtured the talent that has allowed Netflix to come in as TV tourists and effectively commission it.” (The Guardian)
• The Grierson Trust has announced Tom McDonald as its new Chair. In the role he will work closely with the Board and Managing Director to guide the Trust’s strategic direction, champion fundraising efforts and strengthen industry engagement. (Televisual)
• Channel 4, Disney, and Amazon are among the television giants declining to pay annual fees to the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA)—the UK industry’s new independent bullying and harassment complaints body. (Deadline)
• If You Want a Gender-Balanced Staff, Hire a Woman as Showrunner—take awar from a new ReFrame report, which cites Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon MGM Studios as standouts in gender-based hiring for the 2024-25 TV season.
• Edinburgh TV Foundation has revealed a class action plan, offering incentives to broadcasters and production companies for improving access to working class professionals. (Broadcast)
• Channel 5 is reviving BBC’s Play for Today to ‘help shape future of British drama.’ (The Guardian)
Features
• The Sunday Times have released a list of 100 programmes that have defined British television since the year 2000, picked by critics, columnists and stars, including Richard Curtis and Michael Sheen. (The Sunday Times)
• The Roger Corman School of Filmmaking Remembered: Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Robert De Niro, and More on the B-Movie King. (IndieWire)
Opinion
• The Guardian view on bringing back Play for Today: a reboot that feels right for the times. (The Guardian)
• “I’ve worked in TV for 25 years - I can tell you why the culture is so toxic.” (MSN)
• “A Scottish festival built in London?”—Just 7 per cent of Edinburgh TV Festival panellists are based in Scotland, writes Directors UK Board Nations and Regions representative Peter Strachan for The National. (The National)
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