BBC singled out as TV firms called on to back Brit flicks

by Gordon MacMillan,, Brand Republic 18-Sep-03, 14:30

LONDON – The BBC was singled out today as a Commons select committee called on the UK television industry to back British film to allow it succeed in producing international hits.

The MPs', sitting on the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, report into the British film industry said TV needed to support and help the film industry to ensure that the UK has more hits like 'Bend it Like Beckham' and '28 Days Later'.

Both films were smashes in the UK and went on to enjoy even bigger success in the US. They are the first British films in a number of years to make it big on the other side of the Atlantic.

The committee has also recommended that the system of tax breaks introduced to help the UK film industry should remain in place. These were thought to be under threat from chancellor Gordon Brown.

Lord Richard Attenborough, the director of 'Ghandi', 'Cry Freedom' and 'Chaplin' and a major supporter of the British film industry, has argued that hits such as 'Billy Elliot' and 'Notting Hill' would not have been made if the tax breaks were removed.

The MPs said that it was absolutely clear that the current system of tax relief, while not solving the industry's problems, was of indispensable importance.

The committee criticised the BBC and said it had no strategy for supporting the industry. It said BBC director general Greg Dyke's attitude to British film was "almost cursory".

The committee highlighted the fact that in the last eight years only 3% of films shown on terrestrial TV were British movies. Earlier this year, there were calls for ITV1, which showed just one new British movie in the last six months, to show more homegrown films.

ITV1 and Five lead the roll-call of shame, showing only one British movie apiece, 'Rogue Trader' and Stanley Kubrick's 'Eyes Wide Shut' respectively.

The BBC is not much better, however. BBC Two showed three and BBC One showed six -- including 'Mansfield Park' and 'Chicken Run'. Channel 4, which shut its FilmFour production arm earlier this year, showed the strongest commitment, with 16 British films under five years old. These included 'Notting Hill' and 'East is East'.

"We would like to see increased levels of support for film production and exhibition of British product from the public service broadcasters," the committee said.

The committee called on the BBC to review its strategy and work with the film industry. "We urge the BBC to review its approach and level of commitment to feature film production, in consultation with the UK Film Council, given the significant comity of interests in this area."

The BBC was not the only UK TV firm to get a mention. The MPs also suggested that support from BSkyB, home to programmes such as 'Ibiza Uncovered', would be welcome.

"[Support] as a wide long-term investment in content, which must be in that company's interests".

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