Review of the TV Production Sector

Review of the operation of the television production sector

In August 2015, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport asked Ofcom to carry out a review of the operation of the TV production sector. This document is our formal response to this request.

This review focused on four main areas of analysis:

• the changing market context;
• the effectiveness of the current regulations;
• the impact of production sector regulation on PSBs; and
• options for reform.

While carrying out this review, we have built on the evidence collected during our recent Public Service Broadcasting Review and consulted a variety of stakeholders on their views on the operation of the sector and its regulation. We also received a number of written submissions. These are listed in Annex 1.

Ofcom has also commissioned two reports from external consultants to provide an evidence base for this review. Trends in TV production by Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates, and TV production sector evolution and impact on PSBs by Mediatique are both published alongside this document and referenced throughout.

BBC Content Production Options

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport also asked Ofcom to provide input into the Government's assessment of the market impacts of options for reforming the BBC's approach to content production. This document sets out our analysis. We have identified the likely parties affected by change and outlined, at a high-level, potential market impacts.

Our work is intended to support the Government's wider review of the BBC's Royal Charter.