Pact Welcomes Continued Funding For UK Indies Pavilion

Pact, the trade body for independent producers, said the recent confirmation of government support for its UK Indies Pavilion at two major international trade fairs from now until 2012 is great news for boosting exports and enabling independent producers to invest in quality UK programming.
The UK Indies Pavilion, present at MIPTV and MIPCOM since 2005 and co-ordinated by Pact, is an umbrella stand for up to 30 UK independent production companies and offers support in terms of cutting edge meeting and digital screening facilities, market support, pre market briefings and networking events.
It has been funded by UKTI and various other screen agencies and typically generates millions of pounds in sales.
The last market (MIPTV 2010) generated more than £10 million of sales by just 21 of the companies who attended.
Pact Chief Executive John McVay said: "Initiatives such as the UK Indies Pavilion have contributed to the continued rise in international sales figures for UK TV programming year after year. Pact's latest TV Exports report, released this week, showed that international sales of UK TV programmes were up 9% in 2009 to £1,337 million, despite a global recession.
Mr McKay said: "As the coalition works out its policies on exports, it is clear that trade bodies can deliver successful and cost-effective ways of getting companies to international markets."
(KMcA)