STV 's Bid For Independent Status Opposed

Plans to re-classify STV, the broadcaster behind Taggart and Rebus, as an Indie have been hit by opposition from PACT, a trade body representing Television producers.

The granting of independent status would allow STV to be eligible for commissions as part of any out-of-London or Scotland-only production quotas.

Within their submission to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), PACT argued that it would damage the Scottish independent sector and would also only provide insignificant benefits to the broadcaster.

The submission continued that STV already have several competitive advantages over the other Scottish independent broadcasters and that it would further take away commissions from other smaller independent bodies.

John McVay, Chief Executive for PACT commented, "STV have argued that without indie status they are restricted from winning network programme commissions, yet they are already winning commissions from the full range of broadcasters, including all the PSB broadcasters. Our research shows that STV has considerable potential for growth without gaining independent status, and the damage to struggling Scottish indies far outweighs the minimal benefits it looks to achieve."

Commenting on the DCMS's impact assessment for the review that estimated that a change in status would enable STV to generate just an additional £400,000 in network commissions, McVay continued, "This negligible gain would be at the much greater expense of smaller Scottish indies. Changing the status will bring nothing to the region but will damage an already fragile industry".

However Director of Broadcast Service and regulatory affairs, Bobbie Hain this week hit back stating, "although Pact estimated a reclassification would only drive another £400,000 of work a year to STV, that figure is set to quadruple at a minimum as the BBC increased its regional quota to at least 8%."

He continued, "There is a bigger role everyone in Scotland can play in this new landscape and the rising tide should float all boats, not just STV's. "We need to put down roots as a production base now, as the existing infrastructure couldn't handle an influx like that otherwise. Scotland needs to be ready to rise to the challenge."

Whilst independent indie status would allow STV to be considered in the BBC's indie quota as well as the WOCC, Hain countered that, "the production unit would still stand or fall on the strength of its ideas."

"Like all indies, if we don't have the ideas, they won't be commissioned. A change in status is no guarantee that we will be successful with our pitches. "We've been here for 52 years and we've had one BBC commission in all that time. We're not trying to steal work from other indies, we are simply looking for a level playing field", he said.

Hain further commented that STV are at a disadvantage in development meetings as they are currently, "neither an indie, nor an in-house producer".

He continued, "Like all Channel 3 licencees, it makes sense for us to receive indie status. We have zero influence on any national schedule and we make up a very small part of the UK production industry which should be protected."

The decision to grant STV an independent status will be announced by DCMS later this month.

(Source Broadcast)