Minister calls for Channel 4 to increase investment in the local screen industry
Date published:
Economy Minister Conor Murphy and his Ministerial colleagues in Scotland and Wales have written to Ofcom to call for the regulator to take action requiring Channel 4 to address underinvestment in the screen industries of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Economy Minister Conor Murphy and his Ministerial colleagues in Scotland and Wales have written to Ofcom to call for the regulator to take action requiring Channel 4 to address underinvestment in the screen industries of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Minister Murphy said:
“Our screen industry is a success story that we are justifiably proud of. However Channel 4 has persistently underinvested in the industry locally. I have therefore issued a joint letter to Ofcom, along with my Ministerial colleagues in the other devolved administrations, to seek assurance that the regulator will take action to address this underinvestment.”
The Minister’s intervention was welcomed by Sir David Sterling, the Chair of NI Screen, who said:
“Despite the local screen industry here blossoming, Channel 4 has failed to hit even the most modest unregulated target for commissioning from here every year of its 10 year licence. Channel 4 was set up to be the home of the UK’s independent companies and we ask Ofcom to ensure that Channel 4 is obliged to commission a fair proportion of its programming from our local independent companies over the next 10 year licence.”
Notes to editors:
- The Economy Minister’s letter to Ofcom was co-signed by Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice.
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