Last year, Scottish independent TV production companies made 462 houts of network television which have been sold to and watched in over 160 countres around the world, according to figures revealed today at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh Television Festival.
In a speech by the head of the TV producers' organisation, Pact, John McVay, said: “This large body of television content as well as being popular with national and international audiences, is also extremely diverse in its range.
“In factual, for instance, if we look at the 2011 Grierson Documentary Awards, four Scottish companies were recognised: IWC Media’s ‘The Genius of British Science’, Freal Keane Productions’ ‘Girls Behind Bars’, Matchlight’s ‘Imagine: The Trouble with Tolstoy’, and Finestripe Productions’ ‘The Day John Lennon Died’. This shows the breadth and diversity which Scotland produces.
“If we look too at the most recent Royal Television Society Programme Awards, here we saw nominations for films made by Matchlight and Tern TV, while Keo North’s ‘Welcome to Lagos’ was nominated for a BAFTA and won Best Documentary Series at the 2011 Broadcast Awards.”
He continued: “Looking at the output of Scottish indies, it is clear that the programmes don’t have to be about Scotland to be Scottish productions. For instance, Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer’s programmes are all made in Scotland and, recently, they set up their own Scots indie, Raise the Roof, and will be delivering 40 hours by the end of the year.
“Scottish production companies have featured a terrific array of on-screen talent: from Robson Green to Richard Dawkins, John Sergeant to JK Rowling.”
