Lords to ask former HBO boss and Wolf Hall director about the impact of on-demand services on TV production
On Tuesday 30 April, the House of Lords Communications Committee will hold two evidence sessions for its inquiry into public service broadcasting in the age of video on demand. The Committee will question independent TV producers and representatives from the Media Reform Coalition and the Voice of the Listener and Viewer.
In the first session the Committee will hear from Sir Colin Callender, a film and TV producer who played a key role in developing the UK's independent production sector and who won critical acclaim at HBO, and Peter Kosminsky, a writer, director and producer who directed the TV serialisation of Wolf Hall for BBC2.
The Committee will ask the witnesses how the UK production sector is changing and whether the cost of production has increased. The evidence session will begin at 3:30pm in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords and the Committee will question:
- Sir Colin Callender, Chairman, Playground LLC
- Peter Kosminsky, Director, Stonehenge Films
Questions likely to be asked include:
- How will the launch of new services, such as from Apple and Disney, affect the market?
- What are the trends in co-production between public service broadcasters and subscription services?
- What are the differences between producing content for public service broadcasters and producing content for subscription video on demand services?
- How can UK productions better appeal to and represent other different demographics, regions and nations in the UK—especially younger generations?
In the second session beginning at 4:30pm, the Committee will hear from Media Reform Coalition and Voice of the Listener and Viewer, which aim to promote a better media environment. The Committee will ask how well PSBs have responded to the changing market and whether regulations imposed on PSBs are still appropriate.
- Professor Des Freedman, former Chair and founding member, Media Reform Coalition
- Dr Tom Mills, Lecturer in Sociology and Policy, Aston University
- Colin Browne, Chairman, Voice of the Listener and Viewer
Questions likely to be asked include:
- Why are younger generations spending less time watching the output of public service broadcasters?
- Is the legitimacy of the TV licence fee at risk? What other funding models would be appropriate?
- Should a levy be placed on subscription video on demand services to support UK production?
- Should public service broadcasters attempt to compete with the high budget productions of Netflix and other new entrants?
