Posted
by: Paul Heath Source: Assorted Date:
22nd February, 2006
The
BBC are ploughing £100 million into British film over the next ten years.
£50 million will be spent on producing new movies (the BBC has had a hand
in the likes of Woody Allen's MATCH POINT and MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS recently),
while the other £50 million will be used for obtaining films for broadcast.
The
corporation have announced that they will spend around £15 million a year
on making new movies, which is a 50 percent increase on the amount investing currently.
BBC
creative director Alan Yentob said on the a statement posted on This Is London:
"BBC Films has a unique place in the UK film industry as a supporter of
projects which would otherwise not have made it to the big screen.
"Many
of these have made a huge impact with critical and commercial success, including
Billy Elliot, Bullet Boy, Match Point and Mrs Henderson Presents. Increased investment
will broaden the portfolio of films we bring to the screen."
And
how will they pay for this? Well, the BBC have apparently asked the government
for a £50 rise in the TV license over the ten years. The governement are
yet to give them permission to increase the fee, which is currently set at £126.50.
The license funds terrestrial channels BBC1 and BBC2, digital channels and BBC
Radio.
