UK gov’t sets out to gauge preparedness for ‘no deal’ Brexit

The UK government has set out to gauge the preparedness of creative organisations, including the TV industry, in case of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has launched a survey to understand a range of sectors’ awareness and readiness for such a scenario on 31 October.

The impetus behind the survey is to better understand how the DCMS can support creative businesses in the digital, culture, media, sport, telecoms, tourism and charitable sectors in planning for Brexit.

The short survey asks respondents if they are aware of how a ‘no deal’ Brexit could impact a number of issues and whether they have put measures in place to “mitigate negative impacts”.

Questions focus on levels of awareness and preparedness around selling goods online, selling services through traditional channels, buying goods and services, the temporary movement of people (i.e. sending a UK-based team to the EEA to attend a conference), securing contracts and investments through EEA countries and receiving EU funding.

As reported previously by TBI, a House of Lords briefing document from February detailed that roughly 130 channels have applied for licenses outside the UK due to Brexit. Most recently, it was revealed that BBC Studios is looking to migrate a chunk of its broadcast licenses to the Netherlands ahead of a potential ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario.

The UK’s exit from the European Union was extended in April to 11pm GMT on 31 October. Originally, the UK was intended to leave on 29 March, but following a House of Commons vote mid-March, the Government sought permission from the EU to extend Article 50 and confirm a later Brexit date.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was elected by Conservative MPs in July, has been adamant that the nation will leave on 31 October with or without a deal. He is to meet with European leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron later this week in his first trip abroad as PM.

Johnson is expected to push for a new deal that will replace former PM Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, which was defeated three times by MPs.

• For a deep-dive into what Brexit may mean for the broadcast industry, check out TBI’s ‘Brexit and Broadcasting’ feature.