Bodies pledge to safeguard regional TV future
A SUPPORT package to help Yorkshire’s television sector in the wake of ITV’s shake-up of its regional production output has been announced.
Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, Leeds City Council and Screen Yorkshire, the body which promotes the area for film and television, are behind the move.
Yorkshire Forward is to fund the package, further details of which will be announced in the coming weeks.
As many as 400 jobs could be lost in the region after ITV announced plans to mothball its Kirkstall Road studios in Leeds, which will mean production of gameshow Countdown moving to Manchester.
Unions believe almost 200 staff jobs will go, a figure expected to be matched by a similar number of freelance staff who will have no work.
ITV has put the number of job losses in Yorkshire at 150.
In a joint statement Yorkshire Forward, Screen Yorkshire and Leeds City Council said: “This news is extremely disappointing for the region’s broadcasting offer and we are working to ensure that we not only mitigate the impact on those people and their families that are affected directly, but that there remains a thriving production industry within Leeds and indeed the region.
“Screen Yorkshire will be working with partners to develop a media support package, funded by Yorkshire Forward, over the coming weeks to aid the continuation of both programme development and enterprise within the regional industry.
“This will be in addition to our already existing services in support of training and retraining where necessary, helping those made redundant in gaining employment and business start up opportunities.”
The bodies maintained that although ITV’s plans, which came on the back of heavy losses following falls in advertising revenues, were a blow to the industry it would not mark the end of production in the region.
“It is important to remember that we have a strong production offer in Yorkshire and Humber which stems from a breadth of broadcasting and independent production companies,” the statement added.
“The talent that developed and produced these ITV Yorkshire programmes has not gone away. We also have a number of nationally recognised independent production companies, many of which were established by former ITV Yorkshire staff, and we are confident that our package of support will help new companies and talented individuals flourish.”
Soap opera Emmerdale and news programme Calendar are the only two shows guaranteed to be produced in Leeds in future.
