Ofcom’s report and discussion paper on the Future of Children’s TV called for views and comments on the issues raised, with a submission deadline of 20th December. Save Kids’ TV has been working on a comprehensive response which includes its proposals for an institution to protect the long-term future of quality media for children in the UK. We submitted the plan on the 19th and it can be seen in full here.
This was a major piece of work and our thanks go out to everyone who contributed to the debate and the final document.
The proposal envisages a “funded online destination” for kids from 6 – 15, which would include not only rich narrative content via video-on-demand, but also their own contributions, interactivity and community. It’s a multi-media response to the failure of the old market system to provide commercial Public Service content for children – i.e. outside the BBC. Funding would be a mix of public and private and the new organisation would seek partnerships with key broadcasters to tap into the continuing power of linear TV to cross-promote the online destination.
This is likely to be a medium-to-long term solution. We also support PACT’S proposal for a short term solution of tax incentives to increase funding in the children’s production sector.
It’s possible to read all the responses to the consultation on the Ofcom website. Ofcom will consider the options and will propose recommendations to Government in early spring - probably March. But even then there is no guarantee of immediate action. The danger is that the whole issue of children’s gets subsumed in the wider discussion of the future of Public Service Broadcasting in Britain as Ofcom has now launched their full review of PSB.
One thing is clear - we cannot sit back and wait. Kids are already losing out and a world-beating industry is in decline. We have to continue the pressure by various means – and when Ofcom makes its recommendations we’ll need public and political support for immediate action, to make the government sit up and listen.
Between now and March ‘08 Save Kids’ TV will be stepping up the pressure to bring the campaign to public attention. We have had a number of PR successes in the last few months – and we need more.
Once again we call on you to do your bit:
Encourage more people to sign up to the Downing Street Petition
Encourage more people to join the PACT letter writing campaign which is an easy way to raise the issues with their local MP. This letter draws their attention to Early Day Motion 585, sponsored by Janet Anderson MP and asks them to sign it:
The EDM: That this House welcomes the recent reports from the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and media regulator Ofcom which identify a threat to public service broadcasting for children; believes that public service television for children plays a hugely important role in contributing to the educational and cultural development of children; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that UK children of all ages, races and faiths have a genuine choice of high quality, UK-made children’s programmes that reflect the diversity of UK culture and children’s lives in 2007, and are available on a choice of channels.
SKTV will continue to lobby and we are hoping to set up awareness raising events in the regions and in London in the New Year.
We also believe that we need to broaden the discussion of media within the overall context of the debate on childhood initiated by Ed Balls the Children’s Minister, in his new plan for children and the discussion around children and culture started by Richard Eyre in a recent interview.
