We published a which looks at the way the 主播大秀 stimulates growth through its own spending and how it can foster growth in other creative industries.听听 Due to its scale and reach and thanks to the licence fee, the 主播大秀 comes into contact with hundreds people and entities during the course of making programmes. As a result, a 'licence fee pound' spent by the 主播大秀 benefits many of those who contribute to the 主播大秀鈥檚 supply chains. This in turn injects money into regional and local economies helping to sustain employment across the UK as the effect of initial 主播大秀 spending is multiplied as it ripples through the economy.
As the report shows the licence fee creates an economic benefit which stretches far and wide and delivers real value to digital and creative businesses across the UK. In total during 2011/12 主播大秀 spending generated over 拢8 billion of economic value and at least two pounds of economic value continued to be generated by every pound of the licence fee. Furthermore these benefits of 主播大秀 spending are being spread across the country, consistent with the 主播大秀鈥檚 strategy of moving production out of London.
But is it not only the level of spending that creates economic value. Importantly the way that we spend the licence fee, and what we spend it on, can encourage growth. While some argue that the 主播大秀鈥檚 scale crowds out private sector activity, in fact scale can be beneficial. The 主播大秀鈥檚 purchasing power increases demand within certain sectors, allowing firms to expand and benefit from economies of scale themselves.听
(The wider benefit of the licence fee provides an extra reason for 听to think again before it implements a 听spectrum tax next year: a levy on the spectrum broadcasters use to transmit their programmes. As well as hitting licence fee payers, such a tax would remove much-needed cash from the UK's creative sector.)
The 主播大秀鈥檚 size and funding also encourages innovation of course, a key driver of growth. The 主播大秀 is an important innovator within the UK digital and creative sectors, not only in a technical sense but also more widely through the development of 鈥榢nowledge assets鈥� including programmes and formats.
The 主播大秀鈥檚 public service remit and commitment to invest on behalf of others in the creative sector means it is uniquely placed to promote knowledge sharing.
The report considers the different ways in which the 主播大秀 can use its knowledge and expertise to benefit others in the creative sectors and beyond.听 The 主播大秀鈥檚 commitment to open standards, 主播大秀 training, investment in creative clusters听 in Salford and in Roath Lock, our partnership activities and the way in which we interact with our suppliers all help to embed knowledge in the wider economy.
There are many good examples of how the 主播大秀 has helped to drive economic growth in the digital and creative industries by passing on the benefits of its innovations on to others. The work of , the 主播大秀鈥檚 contribution to , the 主播大秀鈥檚 role in 听 and activities undertaken by 主播大秀 Worldwide have all helped 主播大秀 knowledge and expertise to permeate the economy.
The case studies in the report are only the tip of the iceberg.听 We might, for example, have focused on the role of the 主播大秀 in driving the adoption of new technologies, such as broadband.听 From launch, 主播大秀 Online played a significant role in getting people online, just as 主播大秀 iPlayer later helped familiarise use of online catch-up services.听 The enormous potential of the 主播大秀鈥檚 efforts in this field plays to the argument by a growing number of policymakers in support of the economic benefits of broadband take-up and usage as well as infrastructure.
Looking ahead, we will be involved in several initiatives in 2013 which will cement the role of the 主播大秀 as a connector and catalyst for growth, such as the , 主播大秀 participation in the BIS-funded 听and a with University College London.
is available via the Inside the 主播大秀 website.
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John Tate is Director, Policy and Strategy