Jowell announces review of TV programme production

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has announced the terms for a review of the programme supply market in British broadcasting.
The review aims to establish the facts about the overall economic health of the programme supply market, its likely future growth, and make an initial assessment of any structural or competition issues that might adversely affect the sector's long-term development.
Tessa Jowell has asked the Independent Television Commission (ITC) to carry out the review and to report back to her with its findings in late autumn 2002.
The Culture Secretary has made clear that she looks to the broadcasters and programme suppliers to provide full co-operation and information to the ITC to assist in the review.
Ms Jowell said that the review will give an economic overview of how the programme supply market works, covering intellectual property rights, cost characteristics, funding, market structures, and scope for competition.
In parallel, there will be a statistical assessment of the UK programme supply market and its evolution over the past five years, with a view to identifying the strengths and any possible weaknesses of the sector.
The review will also identify significant international markets and their impact on UK programmes, analyse key issues and future challenges, looking at the extent to which there is effective competition in the programme supply market and the likely impact of changes to media ownership rules and identify issues and proposals for further discussion.
Announcing the terms of the review, Tessa Jowell said: "Lord Puttnam's report identified the programme supply market as an area which required more analysis. I agree with him. I want the debate on the future of broadcasting to be informed and comprehensive. This Review will help ensure that."
In welcoming the request by the Culture Secretary to undertake an initial review of the Programme Supply Market, ITC Chairman Sir Robin Biggam, said: "We will aim to produce an informed overview of the market, and to identify the main issues and concerns requiring further attention. We hope that the work of this initial review will provide a good foundation for subsequent discussion in Parliament as the Communication Bill goes through and for further consideration by OFCOM."
(GB)