Emergency Motion 3 - Channel 4
"That this Congress notes the Bectu Sector of Prospect represents hundreds of members in Scotland working as freelancers across scripted and unscripted content. It is our policy that work on content for national broadcasters in the UK should be shared out amongst workers across the UK in an equitable way. On February 28th, 2024, it became clear that Ofcom appeared to have conceded to Channel 4's claims regarding the Nations and Regions production quotas being higher than they reasonably ought to be.
"Channel 4 has a remit to deliver content for the whole of the UK, and to fully do this, 'productions need to be dispersed across the Nations and Regions. At a time where the industry is struggling, there needs to be larger commitments outside of London to ensure those working outside of the M25 are given the same opportunities as those inside.
"Channel 4 itself in its "4 All the UK" strategy committed to 'Representing a diversity of thought and opinions from across the UK, and across all of our content.' It continued: 'We've committed to upping our spend or creative content in the Nations and Regions - from 35% to 50% of main channel UK commissions by 2023. "Committing to this, but then also claiming to Ofcom that it has struggled to commission outside of the M25, is contradictory and unacceptable
"Prospect welcomes the recent support of the STUC and other Unions in raising this matter with both organisations recently.
"This Conference calls upon the incoming General Council to continue to work with affected Unions in raising the profile of this issue and lobbying not only Channel 4 and Ofcom but the Westminster and Scottish Governments, and to work constructively with the Wales TUC and ICTU to ensure that a consistent Trade Union campaign is heard in both the Senedd and Stormont."
Mover: Prospect
Mike moved the motion on behalf of Prospect with the following speech -
​
"Scotland, along with the other Nations and Regions of the United Kingdom have been responsible for creating Some of the most widely seen television in the last decade. Producers from across the world have put their faith in Scottish crews to make their content. Our ccrews consistantly achieve their set goals on time and on budget. We should all be very proud of the talented crews that make up the creative sector in Scotland. Both those that are home grown and those that have Settled here.
When it comes to the UK productions it is often a different atmosphere. One where our crew are often undervalued with heads of department being sought from elsewhere and often bringing their crew with them.
Since 2004, Public Service Broadcasters have been obliged to create a portion of their work outside London and a portion of outside prepaEngland. In 2020 the outside England quota was raised to 9%.
The combined screen agencies of Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland are united in their call to increase the Outside England Quota to the proportional level of 16% and to introduced individual quotas for each nation in line with those accepted by the BBC Since 2009.
We are therefore very disappointed to hear that channel 4 have pushed back on any idea that the nations quota be raised to a proportional level. Claiming, contrary to their boast that outside of London production levels sit voluntarily above 50%. that in fact 9% For the Nations is too difficult to meet. We are even more disappointed that Ofcom have acquiesced to Ct's request to freeze the quotas for the up coming to years.
In moving this emergency Motion we are asking you all to show the pride and support you have for the creative workers in Scotland.
Conference, please support the motion"