Children’s television in Great Britain is in desperate need of government aid to stay afloat, according to Pact, a U.K. trade association that represents and promotes the commercial interests of independent feature film, television, animation and interactive media companies. The organization has issued a national S.O.S. and is petitioning the British government to take necessary steps to combat a perceived threat to the future of the industry.
Pact chief executive John McVay comments, ‘Parents place a high value on quality, home-grown kids’ TV, and they want a wide range of children’s programs provided by a variety of services, not just the BBC. As Pact has consistently warned, we are rapidly coming to the point where there will be no such programming outside the BBC to any significant level. The market is failing British parents and British children.’
BAFTA nominee Laurence Bowen, producer of the animated series My Life As a Popat, adds, ‘Unless immediate action is taken, the 2007 kids’ BAFTAs will be seen historically as the defining wake for children’s TV, the year when we collectively buried any hope of maintaining a healthy industry. ITV and Channel 4 have pulled out of financing Children’s TV production. Five has pulled out of making TV for [kids over five], and the BBC has cut its children’s TV budget by 10%. The industry is in crisis and only direct action from the government can save it.’
In its efforts to preserve the future of Children’s TV in Britain, Pact urges producers and other concerned parties to sign a petition at www.pact.co.uk/campaign and http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/kidstelevision. The petition has already generated more than 3,000 signatures from exposure on the number 10 website.
