Impact of COVID-19 crisis on BAME-led Indies in UK Television
A third of BAME-led TV production companies are facing serious financial hardship as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, new research has revealed. Organisations were also found to be either in ‘financial distress’ or ‘financial crisis’ and said that they would most like to see ring-fenced funding for BAME-led* independents to support the post-COVID recovery.
A study carried out at Birmingham City University’s Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, assessed the impact of coronavirus on independent companies led by Black, Asian and minority ethnic professionals. Academics surveyed 20 UK organisations to find out how their work and businesses had been hit by the global pandemic. It showed that two out of three organisations were losing money or commissions as a result of the virus, with 29 per cent of businesses saying they were either in ‘financial distress’ or ‘financial crisis’.
Other findings from the report include:
- Nearly half of organisations (48 per cent) are worse off as a result of the pandemic
- The vast majority of BAME-led indies have been unable to access much needed development funds
- The vast majority of BAME-led indies have not received government financial support
- The vast majority of BAME-led indies have not applied for industry relief funds
- This is clearly a sector that wants and needs targeted financial support for BAME-led indies, specifically from the industry and more generally from the government.
- 20 per cent of companies had gained commissions specifically related to COVID-19.
Marcus Ryder, multi-award winning journalist and Visiting Professor at Birmingham City University’s Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, said: "BAME-led indies must be at the centre of any policies devised by broadcasters and the government to help them survive an unprecedented global pandemic. We believe this report is important in demonstrating why that's necessary.”
The COVID-19 pandemic and growth of the Black Lives Matter Movement has shone a light on equality and representation across a number of sectors, including the media.
The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity was launched in March, with the aim of examining representation across the industry including journalism, acting, film, TV and radio in both front-of-house and behind the scenes roles.
* The research categorised a company as being BAME-led where it had a CEO, MD or other senior leaders from a BAME background.
Click here to download a copy of the A survey of BAME-led Indies in UK Television and the impact of COVID-19 report.
