UK's PSBs ask government to work with them to support freelancers

Urge the government to provide a package of support to freelancers

By Jenny Priestley

Published: March 25, 2020

Urge the government to provide a package of support to freelancers

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The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4C have written a joint letter to the government urging it to work with them to support freelancers working in the TV industry during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a joint letter to the chancellor signed by all the PSBs, they highlight the value of the freelancers to the success of the UK's Creative Industries and urge the government to provide a package of support to freelancers.

They offer to work with the Government to help it identify a package of measures that would provide for a level of income protection and access to statutory sick pay for the freelance community in the industry as a matter of urgency.

The very nature of the freelance community is that they do not have a single anchor employer; they work for the industry as a whole across TV and film, which makes them particularly vulnerable in current circumstances and therefore worthy of government support, said the letter.

We are aware of the communication that you have received from various trade bodies and unions representing the freelance sector in the UK creatives industries and we would also urge the government to take measures to protect the long term health of the UK creative industries, by providing a package of support to freelancers.

The letter is signed by BBC director general Tony Hall, ITV CEO Carolyn McCall, Channel 4's CEO Alex Mahon, Maria Kyriacou, president, UK and Australia, Viacom CBS Networks International, and Owen Evans, CEO, S4C.

LINK:	https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/uks-psbs-ask-government-to-work-wit...
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