The director of hit BBC period drama Wolf Hall expresses the need for the government to have the courage to stand up to the White House bully to safeguard the future of public service broadcasting.
Peter Kosminsky, in an interview with Sky News’ Breakfast with Anna Jones, stresses the urgency of implementing a streaming levy to support British high-end TV production and prevent the decimation of the UK industry.
This call comes in response to a recent report from the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) committee, urging the government to enhance support for the UK’s high-quality drama sector and preserve the creation of distinctly British content.
The report specifically recommends that streamers like Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+, and Disney+ contribute 5% of their UK subscriber revenue to a cultural fund aimed at financing drama tailored to British audiences.
Kosminsky, who advocated for the levy and provided evidence to the committee in January, refers to global tariffs recently imposed by Donald Trump as a crucial factor to consider.
He expresses concerns that these tariffs might deter the government from implementing a streaming levy, but emphasizes the necessity of taking this step to “defend a hundred years of honorable tradition of public service broadcasting in this country and prevent its demise due to fear of repercussions from the bully in the States”.
The second series of Wolf Hall, starring Mark Rylance (L) and Damian Lewis, nearly didn’t happen. Pic: BBC
Kosminsky also highlights that streamers can access funds from the levy if they engage in co-production with a UK public service broadcaster.
Earlier this year, a White House statement criticized levies on US streaming services, labeling them as “one-sided, anti-competitive policies” that “intrude upon American sovereignty”.
In response to the call for streaming levies, a representative from Netflix argues that such measures would penalize viewers and reduce competitiveness.
The spokesperson adds: “The UK is an important production hub for Netflix outside of North America, and we wish to maintain that position.”
The Association for Commercial Broadcasters and On-Demand Services (COBA) warns that a levy could harm UK growth and jeopardize the success of the UK TV sector globally, resulting in increased costs for businesses.
Pic: BBC
COBA supports the committee’s proposal for targeted tax incentives for domestic drama.
Kosminsky recounts the challenges faced during the production of the second series of Wolf Hall, emphasizing the financial strain that nearly led to its cancellation just weeks before shooting commenced. He reveals that key personnel had to make significant salary cuts to keep the show going.
Having dedicated his career to public service broadcasting, Kosminsky expresses deep sorrow over witnessing the industry he cherishes being severely affected.
While acknowledging the value of streamers, he points out that their substantial resources have driven up production costs to the point where traditional broadcasters can no longer sustain high-quality television.
Adolescence. Pic: Netflix
This week, the show Adolescence by British creators Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham achieved significant success on Netflix, underscoring the global appeal of some British content. However, Kosminsky warns that iconic productions like ITV’s Mr Bates Vs The Post Office as Hillsborough, and BBC’s Three Girls could be at risk of being overlooked in the future.
He cautions that these productions, focusing on sensitive topics and societal issues in the UK, might not align with the interests of streamers, jeopardizing the diversity of content available.
Mr Bates vs the Post Office. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
The CMS report emerges from an investigation into British film and high-end television, aiming to address the impact of streaming platforms on domestic and foreign investment in production.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, Chairwoman of the CMS committee, emphasizes the importance of interventions to level the playing field between streamers and public service broadcasters to ensure that uniquely British stories have a platform.
A spokesperson from the DCMS states, “We recognize the challenges facing our fantastic film and TV industry and are collaborating with it through our Industrial Strategy to explore ways to further stimulate growth and nurture talent. We appreciate the committee’s report and will respond accordingly.”