Budget 'Fails Crisis In Children's Programming'

By failing to include any provision for original children's programming in the Budget the Government has yet again overlooked the funding crisis it is facing.
That's according to the UK trade body for independent producers in the film, television, digital and animation industries, Pact.
Despite the Government’s Digital Britain report confirming "that there is widespread agreement that the current market failure in home-grown children’s programming needs to be addressed," there still remains no sustainable solution, said Chief Executive for Pact, John McVay.
"The Government acknowledged in the Digital Britain report that children's is a key public service genre and that government intervention is required," he said.
He added: "Ofcom's latest figures show a fall in investment in new UK children’s shows by the PSB channels of more than £50m between 2004 and 2008 and the BBC’s annual investment in children's has also dropped.
"We are disappointed at the Government's decision not to include some concession in the Budget for sustaining diversity and plurality of children's programming."
(BMcN/BMcC)