The BBC has quite a lot of scripted exhibits on its slate that it “can’t fund,” in response to UK super-producer Jane Featherstone.
Featherstone, who runs Black Doves producer Sister and has made a number of BBC exhibits down the years together with large Netflix hits, made the declare in the course of the UK parliamentary inquiry into high-end TV and movie.
“The BBC can reply for this however I’m conscious they’ve a number of exhibits which by no fault of their very own they’ll’t fund,” she informed the Tradition, Media & Sport Committee (CMSC). “Which makes it very tough to see additional down the road as a result of these exhibits take two to a few years to come back to display screen.” Deadline has contacted the BBC over Featherstone’s declare and can replace this put up when the BBC responds.
Anecdotally, Deadline has heard over the previous few months of UK exhibits getting caught in what is usually termed ‘mushy greenlight’ stage, when a program is given the inexperienced mild however producers are informed they nonetheless want to seek out nearly all of funding.
Featherstone spoke to this subject and pointed to an instance of a present Sister is making for the BBC written by Utopia scribe Dennis Kelly.
“The BBC give us the greenlight and now we go, ‘How are we going to fund it?’, as a result of a greenlight is 30% of the funds, which is historically now what a [Public Service Broadcaster] can solely afford to place in,” she stated. “Every case is completely different but it surely leaves us with hole of say 60% of the funds. We are actually [in the UK] getting nearer to that indie movie mannequin on the decrease price finish.”
Featherstone stated the BBC and different Public Service Broadcasters like Channel 4 are having to “funnel more cash” into higher-cost content material, which doesn’t essentially mirror British values. “The market itself gained’t care for British content material and that’s the bit we have to have a look at, that’s the bit in danger,” she stated.
She famous it’s changing into more durable to promote British content material overseas, pointing to the instance of ITV hit Mr Bates vs the Publish Workplace, which “didn’t promote to many international locations in any respect.”
When it comes to her personal firm Sister, Featherstone stated she “doesn’t really feel as assured concerning the sustainability of our enterprise mannequin” in comparison with the post-Covid growth period 18 months in the past. Deadline revealed final 12 months that the indie had doubled turnover however was nonetheless failing to show a revenue. It has since closed its U.S. workplace and Cindy Holland has exited.
“I wish to suppose we’re very danger pleasant as an organization however I’ve to be sincere within the final 18 months I’ve felt much less inclined to take these dangers as a result of I don’t really feel as assured concerning the sustainability of our enterprise mannequin,” she stated. “I now really feel much less secure than I did about investing long run for the longer term.”
She stated she has larger hopes for this 12 months and predicted the market will equalize considerably between pubcasters and streamers, whereas calling for assist with an improved tax credit score, backing up Physician Who producer Jane Tranter. Tranter beforehand urged the UK authorities to replace high-end TV tax credit in step with the “game-changing” British indie movie reduction.
Featherstone was talking to the CMS’ high-end TV and movie inquiry. Various UK TV doyens contributed to the identical inquiry final 12 months together with Gurinder Chadha, Tranter and Gradual Horses director James Hawes. It was shelved for some time in the course of the common election interval however the newly-assembled CMS Committee determined to choose it again up once more.
