The Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA) is warning that the proposed changes to the regulation of TV channel numbers may damage multichannel broadcasters’ investment in new U.K. children’s programming.<\/p>\n
According to COBA, multichannel broadcasters invested an average of \u00a315.6 million ($21.9 million) annually over the last three years on new children\u2019s programming in the U.K.\u00a0But Ofcom’s proposals to change the regulation of TV channel numbers could affect networks\u2019 ability to generate a ROI and therefore diminish their ability to invest in new British series.<\/p>\n
Ofcom’s proposed changes could force COBA members to take lower positions in the TV program guide, with BBC Children\u2019s channels taking their places. This would then reduce audiences for commercial networks and ultimately damage their ability to secure enough ROI to invest in new content.<\/p>\n
Adam Minns, COBA\u2019s executive director, said: \u201cMultichannel broadcasters are one of the biggest\u2014if not the biggest\u2014source of children\u2019s commissioning outside the BBC and they do so without public support. This should not be taken for granted, particularly given growing competition from online services. We therefore ask policymakers to ensure that multichannel broadcasters are able to continue to make this investment and, crucially, not to damage their ability to generate a return on their investment. Since the BBC\u2019s program budget is determined by the license fee rather than audience numbers, the net result of moving BBC channels up the TV guide and commercial channels down will be less investment in British children\u2019s TV.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs linear broadcasters, COBA members are already heavily regulated and provide a safe, much-valued environment for children. The debate over the future prominence of public service broadcasters in the online world is an important one, and one where, as heavily regulated linear channels ourselves, we share many concerns. But that important debate should not be conflated with linear broadcasting, and end up inadvertently damaging children\u2019s TV.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn linear broadcasting, BBC children\u2019s channels are already performing successfully\u2014the BBC itself told the Culture Select Committee that \u2018children\u2019s awareness of [its] children\u2019s channels and digital channels is very high and CBeebies and CBBC are the first place they go.\u2019 The BBC already has prominence for its linear channels, as well as the license fee and cross-promotional advantages with its other services and magazines. The real issue facing the BBC is not its place in the linear world, but its relevance in the online space, which is a challenge that all linear broadcasters share.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA) is warning that the proposed changes to the regulation of TV channel numbers may damage multichannel broadcasters’ investment in new U.K. children’s programming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":479,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[3559,3560,1227],"class_list":["post-14084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-top-stories","tag-coba","tag-commercial-broadcasters-association","tag-ofcom","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n