A chance to save children’s TV
Parliament is today (Wednesday 8th February) set to debate an important amendment that could prove a vital lifeline for the British children’s programming sector, which has been in decline in recent years.
Peers including Baroness Benjamin (former presenter of Play School), Baroness Bonham-Carter and Baroness Jones of Whitchurch have tabled a cross-party amendment that calls for Ofcom to be granted more powers to work with Public Service Broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5) to provide more quality children’s programmes.
The number of new British-made children’s programmes has been in sharp decline since legislative changes in the early 2000s. Though children are consuming more and more content online, television viewing remains strong with 87% of 4 – 15 year olds still watching live broadcast.
Commenting on the Bill, Baroness Benjamin, a Liberal-Democrat Peer, said: “With the support of cross-party colleagues in the House of Lords, I have tabled a joint amendment to the Digital Economy Bill which seeks to secure the long-term future and sustainability of original television programmes for children and young people.”
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, a Labour Peer, added: “The Government needs to take another look at the issues and change legislation to ensure we safeguard a vital sector. Children’s programming is a successful industry that not only nurtures our nation’s youth but also projects Britain around the world.”
The amendment has the backing of campaigners including the Pact-supported Save Kids’ Content campaign. Anne Wood CBE, behind children’s favourites such as the Teletubbies, In the Night Garden, and Rosie and Jim, said: “I am very lucky to have had some success in children’s television. Unfortunately, it is far less common now for new exciting children’s programmes to get through to British screens. The decline in original British content for kids has been dramatic, and continues to fall.
“There has been a 93% decline in children’s programming made by commercial PSBs. On this trajectory British-made children’s programmes are set for extinction.”
The amendment is being debated in the House of Lords today, Wednesday 8 February. It calls for:
· Ofcom to have more powers to require the PSB broadcasters to commission more original British children’s content in the future;
· Flexibility for Ofcom to negotiate with PSB broadcasters around the level of that future investment in children’s content and how the requirements are met.