House of Lords call for BBCWW privatisation, kids TV tax credits

The House of Lords has called for BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the British public broadcaster, to be part privatised and has suggested that the government should introduce a new tax credit to boost the production of kids TV in the UK.

The calls have been as part of the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications’ latest report – The British film and television industries – decline or opportunity?.

The body has suggested extending tax credits currently available in the British film industry to the kids TV business, which would be a massive boost for kids producers and distributors. It said: “Given the significant fall in spending on children’s programming (48%) since 2003, the committee suggests the government should consider introducing an extension of the film tax credit to children’s programming on a trial basis.”

It has also recommended that the BBC should should agree to sell part of BBC Worldwide to create a public private company. “This would enable it to become a global distributor of UK content on a much greater scale, producing additional profits, employment and opportunities for British production companies, which they can use to fund UK content,” the report noted.