Birmingham Bid For New Digital Broadcasting Channel

Birmingham aims to cement its reputation as a pioneering centre for international film and television production by bidding to produce content for a new, digital media channel.

Communications regulator OFCOM is launching a consultation next week to establish the rationale for a broadcasting vehicle that will be a digital media publishing service rather than a traditional television channel. Called the Public Service Publisher (PSP) it is proposed to be available on all electronic forms of visual media, from mobile phones to laptops, with a variety of community focussed content. The PSP is born out of the review of Public Service
Broadcasting that predicts there will be a deficit in public service broadcasting in the digital age that is now upon us. It has been suggested by OFCOM that the PSP should be based outside of London to enhance regional production, as well as reflect the local, diverse and global content that 21st century consumers demand.

Birmingham and West Midlands leaders have responded strongly to the opportunity that PSP may create. Birmingham City Council Leader, Cllr Mike Whitby, indicated that he is keen to secure a home for PSP here in the Midlands, he said “Birmingham City Council, working with its creative partners, led the development of a digital media strategy. Hosting the new PSP would be an important step in developing Birmingham as a premier digital city.”

Jonnie Turpie, Chair of Screen WM, explains why Birmingham and its media sector needs to capitalise upon this new opportunity. “Birmingham is building a national and international reputation as a film location and financier, but the real opportunity for the citywill be the emerging digital media sector that is being built by independent TV, media and games producers in the region. They are contributing to new media platforms like ‘youtube’ and ‘myspace’ that will become the new currency for tomorrow’s media savvy consumers.” Enhancing the opinions of consumers and perceptions of the city are key targets for Marketing Birmingham. Chief Executive, Neil Rami said: “The reason Birmingham is well placed to attract the new publisher channel is not only because of its emerging media talent, but also because of our youthful and diverse population - what better place to launch this national innovative project than in Europe’s youngest city?”

The city’s film office, Film Birmingham, is instrumental in attracting filmmakers, producers and writers to the city. Director and former BBC producer and presenter Suzie Norton said: "There are a wide range of cutting edge and innovative television and film projects taking place in Birmingham right now- making it an exciting place to be creating content. We're looking forward to becoming the UK lead city in digital media and establishing the PSP here
will help us enormously."

To assess the economic impact of this burgeoning sector, Advantage West Midlands set up a dedicated Screen, Image and Sound cluster. This includes all screen media - TV, film, video, animation, interactive games, e-learning, music, radio and photography. The cluster’s focus is on the creation of innovative digital content for education and entertainment, It employs
around 21,000 workers in the region and contributes £1.4 billion to the economy each year.

John Edwards, Chief Executive, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), said: “We’ve been investing heavily in the media sector for some time and we are very keen to be a major partner in developing a strategy that will see PSP being based in the West Midlands. Digital media is one of the five key themes of AWMs Innovation and Technology Council, who are strongly backing developments to bring PSP to our region. It’s a key opportunity to put the
West Midlands on the new media map and digital technologies based here will create high value jobs.”

Cllr Mike Whitby concluded: “Bringing a new, national, media producer to Birmingham will have a far-reaching effect on changing the city’s media landscape and enhancing our reputation for world class facilities.”

OFCOM is to launch a consultation document on the future delivery of public service content for the digital age, this could be either from an existing organisation, or a new, independent body which would energise the market. It could aggregate news from public service broadcasters and would be focused on serving the public as users, creators and contributors -not just as consumers.

Ends

For further information, visuals and interviews, please contact Tracey Saunders, Head of PR & Corporate Affairs, Marketing Birmingham on 0121 202 5002 or
tracey.saunders@marketingbirmingham.com.

Notes to editors

• Launched by Council Leader Mike Whitby in February last year, Film Birmingham aims to strengthen the city's reputation as a recognised centre for film and television production, support a wide range of festivals and events and foster a successful environment for Birmingham 's filmmakers and production companies to develop.
  
• Screen West Midlands’ mission is to create a thriving screen media industry in the region, supporting, promoting and developing the screen media industry through production, education, exhibition, archive and skills development.
  
• Birmingham is home to a strong network of media and production companies including Maverick Television (awarded a Creative Cities Award by Channel 4 in 2005) and BAFTA award winning, film and production company, Dreamfinder.