Since the UK are still yet to have a deal with the EU, it is uncertain which scenario will take place and how leaving the EU could affect the UK’s broadcasting industry. We are exploring the positive and negative impacts that leaving the EU could have on the broadcasting industry.
POSITIVES
Hopefully the UK will remain to be an attractive place for artists to come and work whilst still sharing a common European culture. London is a major hub for creatives featuring over 850 art galleries and many communal creative work spaces whilst it’s creative sector contributes £47bn to the UK’s economy every year. It is important that London continues to provide creative work spaces, developing the talent of the future, jobs and shaping the local communities in order to maintain its name of global capital of culture.
Leaving the EU would mean that the UK are free to make their own immigration rules. This would mean they could make them flexible enough for workers within the broadcasting industry to visit the UK with little hassle. The UK will also be able to negotiate new free trade deals with other countries once they are out of the EU. This means that, the UK can create deals that has its own self-interest as its main negotiating focus.
Additionally, as the pound is weaker, foreign studios and producers are getting better value for money when they spend in the UK which could lead to an increase in UK productions, more jobs, higher wages and growing the size of the UK film economy.
NEGATIVES
On the other hand, leaving the EU could mean the loss of freedom of movement which could hit the visual effects and post-production sector quite hard as they require freelancers who have specific skills, whereas before hiring EU nationals was on the same basis as hiring UK workers. It is estimated that between 10 to 20% of the UK’s audio visual workforce is made of EU nationals, and in London the percentage is much greater. Depending on the deal that is accepted, a main concern is if the large percentage of EU nationals, who currently live and work in the UK in the broadcasting sector, will be able to stay. It may also reduce the ability of EU producers to film freely within the UK as well as cutting down the demand for UK based training courses which could all lead to a lower demand for employment and services in the UK.
Over 650 channels that are broadcast EU wide have a UK broadcasting license. Leaving the EU would mean that broadcasters will have to seek a license in another EU member state by moving their workforce and operation in order to retain their license to broadcast their shows freely across the EU.
Finally, leaving the EU could result in the loss of the Digital Single Market which has been of high importance for the UK as Europe is the UK’s largest export market for digital services and the DSM allows access to this. There is a risk that UK broadcasters may lose their EU access to their markets as companies will need an EU base.
To conclude, the outcomes of Brexit are still uncertain and only predictions can be made, about how leaving the EU could affect the broadcasting industry, until the final deal has been agreed. The film industry is booming in the UK and hopefully it will remain after Brexit. Whatever the outcome.
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