The TV industry in Wales is facing a “crisis” behind the cameras, with a slow-down in commissioning leading to a growing number of freelance crews leaving the industry altogether. Despite the success of hits like Gavin and Stacey, the union Bectu warns that half of freelancers were out of work as broadcasters grappled with tighter budgets and falling advertising revenue. Commercial broadcasters have been dealing with rising costs, while the BBC has faced budget cuts. Producers note that changing priorities by broadcasters have led to fewer programmes being commissioned, particularly entertainment shows and documentaries.
Freelancers in the industry who have experienced drastic reductions in their work are struggling to make ends meet. Some have been forced to leave the industry altogether. Amy Mills, who spent 10 years working on network TV productions in Wales, decided to quit when the jobs stopped coming. She now works in public relations for a charity. Freelancers who were contemplating leaving TV could also continue to use their skills in other industries. Ben Randall, a TV and games composer, is one of the freelancers hoping to ride out the storm. “Unless you’re an A-list Hollywood composer, you’re struggling,” he said, reflecting on how he coped with a lack of work.
Over half of Bectu’s freelance members are out of work, with 78% reporting that they are struggling to pay their bills. The UK government said that these workers must feel that a creative career is sustainable for them and welcomed the work the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority is doing to ensure the sector remains one of the best in the world to work in. The Welsh government recognises that it is a challenging time for the TV industry and that its investments in the creative industries are targeted towards strengthening the industry for the long-term.
Bectu is calling for the UK government to create a freelancers’ commissioner to oversee the workforce and protect their rights. TV producer Emyr Afan said the industry had entered “a period of survival of the fittest”. Companies like Wildflame and Label 1 which had made Saving Lives in Cardiff for BBC Wales have already closed. The situation has been frightening for many companies, but the industry is pivoting. Companies need to diversify for “a more digital era, where people are consuming television in a different way, where the budget is tighter and we have to work differently,” Afan said. Winning commissions is even more treasured than they were before, said Afan, adding that succeeding in business is about “innovation, it’s about entrepreneurship. And I think, unfortunately, we are going to see a period of survival of the fittest.
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