Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru (TAC), the trade body for independent TV production companies in Wales, today responded to the publication of |Ofcom’s PSM review.

Llyr Morus, TAC Chair, said.

“We recognise the changing landscape and some of Ofcom’s recommendations, for example on preserving PSB funding and ensuring prominence on YouTube, make perfect sense. We also agree that the tax reliefs are important and will continue to make the case for a lower HETV threshold for minority indigenous language productions, which would boost TV production in the nations.”

“However, if the system is to be maintained then it needs to be working in an optimum way to achieve its aims, including maintaining and building sustainable production bases in the UK nations. On that note we are disappointed that Ofcom, despite TAC and others regularly raising issues round ‘brass-plating’, does not commit to a review of its ‘Made out of London’ criteria, to ensure they are still working in the spirit of what is intended by legislation which was only recently renewed in the Media Act.”

“Elsewhere, Ofcom talks about a ‘fundamental’ review of regulation for PSBs ‘which strips away any outdated unnecessary regulations’. While that may be welcome in some areas, our concern regards which stakeholders will lead on deciding that regulations are ‘unnecessary’. As we have seen with its recent consultation on TV Codes of Practice, Ofcom proposed policies which appear to be broadcaster-centric, but which damage the very independent sector on which those broadcasters depend for new ideas, stories and talent. Any proposed reduction review of regulation in such areas needs to involve full and fair engagement with all parties, to prevent similar situations arising again.”