Kids industry welcomes BBC’s £25 million programming TV pledge

Industry figures have welcomed yesterday’s announcement from UK public broadcaster the BBC that it will invest an extra £25 million in kids programming over the next three years.

UK producers’ group Pact said the news was good for the kids industry, but warned that a funding gap still exists for UK-originated kids programming. Pact chief executive John McVay said: “There remains a significant funding gap for public service kid’s content even if the BBC’s commitment represents entirely new investment.”

Mike Watts, CEO of UK indie Novel Entertainment and kids TV representative on Pact’s council said: “We have questions as to where the funding will come from and whether it will be a genuine increase or simply offset by recent cuts, but, in principle, we wholeheartedly support the BBC’s decision to make the provision of children’s programming a priority.”

Jana Bennett, director of the BBC’s production arm, BBC Vision, said the additional funding will be ‘derived from efficiency savings’ and would equal at least £25 million over three years.