Ofcom Try To Define ‘Regional Production’

Industry weekly Broadcast had an article in this past week’s issue on Ofcom’s role overseeing the regional production quotas, focusing particularly on how the new regulator will define ‘regional production’.

According to a letter sent by Channel 4 to its independent production partners, Ofcom is proposing three criteria to judge whether independent production is regional:

1. The producer must have a ’substantive’ business base, where executives live and work, outside of the M25

2. At least 70% of the production budget must be spent outside of the M25, although the cost of on-screen talent is excluded

3. At least 70% of the production talent by cost must live and work outside of the M25, which means staff relocating for the duration of the project will not qualify in this category

Apparently the letter from C4 to its indie partners asked them if commissions for the station in 2002 would have qualified under the newly proposed criteria and whether they felt there would be a less intrusive way of assuring the ‘regionality’ of production, instead of strict residency stipulations. It’s likely that Channel 4 is gathering this information to bolster and inform Ofcom’s consultation document, which will make interesting reading if it is made public.

Ofcom plans to publish an agreed definition of regional production in December, according to the regulators timetable. Initial guidance says, “The Communications Act requires ITV, Channel 4, five and BBC1 and 2 to broadcast a minimum proportion (and range) of programmes made outside the M25. The Act also requires them to invest a minimum proportion of programme expenditure in such programmes. Ofcom will publish the definition it will apply to all PSBs.”