SKTV has been lobbying extensively in the last 6 months to gain support for the comprehensive proposal we have put together to solve the problems in the provision of quality UK-produced content of children and young people. Meetings with all the key players in the three main political parties included discussions with Don Foster, the Lib-Dem Culture spokesperson and ED Vaizey, the Conservative Shadow broadcasting minister. We have also had a constructive conversation with Andy Burnham the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who expressed strong support that something should be done for kids – though with reservations about where the finance would come from.
We have had several meetings with senior civil servants and advisors to the Digital Britain Review process which resulted in their request that we submit a more detailed version of the SKTV “digital destination” plan – the online video-on-demand and interactive community for kids delivering the best of UK, world and user content and letting kids, play chat and contribute around it. The latest version of the plan is downloadable here.
SKTV made representations to the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport, and sent a full report to the House of Lords Select Committee’s investigation in to the future of the creative industries chaired by Lord Foster.
Key supporters have also been coming forward, including Floella Benjamin who is tireless activist for children’s rights, especially to media access, and Lord Puttnam the Labour peer and advocate for digital education.
Throughout this process we have remained pragmatic – insisting that if the SKTV plan is not adopted it’s general principles should be applied to any solution for the Second Public Service Broadcaster and their commitment to kids’ content.
