Bosses at ITV Studios have rejected the notion that there’s a UK scripted funding disaster whereas batting away questions round sale rumors.
Talking on the Inventive Cities Conference (CCC), MD Julian Bellamy and gross sales boss Ruth Berry struck an upbeat tone as they refused to simply accept that the drama market is in disaster regardless of it being labelled as such by quite a few trade figures.
“I don’t subscribe to the phrase ‘disaster’,” stated Bellamy, flagging that three of the 5 greatest British dramas prior to now yr have been made by ITV Studios – 4 in the event you embrace The Gents from newly acquired Moonage Photos. “You need to take a step again. We have now a fairly robust observe file and scripted is a key development engine.”
Bellamy did be aware that the U.S. co-pro market is “difficult” and “very British restricted collection that don’t have quite a lot of worldwide resonance ” have gotten more durable to get off the bottom, as he joined trade requires an enhanced high-end TV tax credit score.
Concurring with Bellamy, Berry stated “disaster feels a powerful phrase” but it surely’s all about degree of threat.
“Value inflation has outstripped gross sales inflation,” she famous. “You need to take a portfolio view and that’s the place we’re very lucky with the size of our enterprise. It’s not a disaster but it surely’s about being cautious throughout the group and being on high of market tendencies to make the selections that we’re.”
ITV Studios hits over the previous yr or so embrace the likes of Mr Bates vs the Publish Workplace, though that one stays unsold in most territories. The super-indie has spent huge on scripted outfits in latest months, shopping for Moonage, Eagle Eye Drama and Sherlock maker Hartswood Movies.
Yesterday on the CCC, the author of Mr Bates, Gwyneth Hughes, advised there may be “overstaffing” of TV crews and these crews ought to slim down with a view to get monetary savings. Whereas putting a extra optimistic tone, Bellamy stated producers might “develop fewer, greater issues for market or take them barely later” to commissioners with a view to act smarter and negate rising prices.
Sale rumors
Rumors swirl across the sale of ITV Studios, with each RedBird IMI and Banijay understood to be displaying eager curiosity. Bellamy declined touch upon the sale speak however stated he’s proud of the manufacturing arm’s present scale following the splashy scripted indie buys.
He stated “we don’t have interaction with most approaches for funding and are extremely disciplined.”
“We’re open to any alternatives to construct out our studio group however we’re comfy with our scale,” he stated. “The dimensions debate was occurring once I began 9 years in the past. To me it’s nonetheless basically fairly easy – in case you are trying to scale it needs to be the best match.”
Bellamy was talking on the second day of the CCC earlier than BBC Director Common Tim Davie.
