Written by new-contact on Mar 2, 2012. Posted in Incentive News

UK Government called on to boost high-end TV with new filming incentives

The UK Government is being called on to boost British TV production by launching filming incentives similar to what’s already available for features. Producers say the UK is losing ‘cinematic’ TV like The Tudors to countries such as Ireland and Hungary that offer TV filming incentives.

High-end TV projects consistently attract big budgets and big-name stars, as audience demand has grown over the years. Producers want a change included in the Government’s upcoming Budget to help attract these productions to the UK.

A new report from consultancy firm RSM Tenon and media law specialist Wiggin LLP claims that launching incentives for productions that spend more than GBP1 million for every hour of TV could deliver GBP350 million in extra annual production spending for the UK.

We are fully behind a targeted high-end TV production tax relief. It’s a natural progression from the UK Film Tax Credit, which has been a huge incentive and growth driver for the UK.

Andy Harries, Left Bank Pictures

Andy Harries is Chief Executive of Left Bank Pictures in London and is filming a third series of thriller Strike Back in South Africa. He commented for the report: “We are fully behind a targeted high-end TV production tax relief. It’s a natural progression from the UK Film Tax Credit, which has been a huge incentive and growth driver for the UK.

“We are currently developing story ideas for series four of Strike Back and would love to shoot in the UK. If there was a UK tax credit we would shoot at least six episodes or more in the UK and not just in London.”

High-end TV shows including The Tudors, Camelot and Titanic: Blood & Steel have taken advantage of TV incentives in Dublin and Hungary recently. The UK is a film production hub, but could become an international TV production hub as well with the right incentive scheme.