television, film and radio
The total workforce of the British film and television industries is over 110,000 covering actors, directors and producers, reporters and cameramen, animators and make up artists, staff in postproduction studios and special effects, and the very many men and women working behind the scenes ranging from electricians and plasterers to sound technicians and researchers.
The total filmed entertainment market in the UK is estimated at around £3.7billion and in 2009 the UK had the third largest filmed entertainment market in the world after the USA and Japan. Sell-through video on physical media was the largest single revenue source for film in the UK market, accounting for 35% of total revenues.
Whilst the Ofcom annual public service broadcast report shows that the combined spend by the UK’s PSBs on new home grown shows fell by 6% year on year to £2.3bn, television industry (terrestrial broadcasters and satellite and cable companies) exports were £1,101 million in 2008, up from to £855 million in 2007, an increase of 29 per cent.
Amongst our clients we have a number of household name television and radio production companies as well as many smaller, independent production companies in areas as diverse as commercials, digital imaging, music, multimedia and production services.
In addition to the expected financial management, audit and assurance, business and personal taxation, employment tax and VAT advice, haysmacintyre advises on a number of corporate finance transactions in the sector. For example, this year we worked on a private placing of shares for Internet based TV company PeerTV plc, a share offer to finance a British feature film for Carnaby International Production Plc and advised on a management buy out of a one stop creative cross platform production company.
We also support a number of technology companies who support the television and radio production and advertising sectors.
The Ofcom (independent regulator and competition authority), British Film Institute, UK Film Council, and BAFTA web sites provide valuable information about the UK’s communications industry.