MUMBAI: British market research organisation National Statistics has published data regarding Britain's film and television industry.
In 2004, exports of all services by the UK film and television industries were ?2,181 million, an increase of 25 per cent on 2003. Imports were ?2,131 million, an increase of 11 per cent on the previous year. The overall effect has been a change from a net deficit of ?166 million in 2003 to a surplus of ?50 million in 2004.
The film industry showed a net surplus of ?89 million in 2004, a six per cent decrease from the 2003 figure of ?95 million. The television industry showed a net deficit of ?436 million in 2004, a six per cent decrease in the 2003 deficit of ?465 million.
Television exports have decreased from ?677 million in 2003 to ?664 million in 2004. Imports have also decreased from ?1,142 million in 2003 to ?1,100 million in 2004, a decrease of 4 per cent. The negative balance for international transactions by the television industry decreased from ?465 million in 2003 to ?436 million in 2004.
Exports (receipts) of film companies in 2004 have increased from ?633 million in 2003 to ?842 million. Imports have increased from ?538 million in 2003 to ?753 million in 2004. As a result, the positive balance of the film industry has decreased to ?89 million in 2004, from ?95 million in 2003. . Export royalties (receipts) have remained broadly level at ?399 million in 2004. Import royalties (payments) increased by 43 per cent to ?616 million. Exports related to the production of films in the UK increased from ?233 million in 2003 to ?444 million in 2004. Imports for production work abroad have increased by 26 per cent to ?136 million in 2004.
The figures come as the British film sector, which directly employs an estimated 31,000 people, faces an uncertain future with tax authorities contemplating new rules that would offer producers less incentive to shoot in the UK.
One recent study indicated that the value of work done on Hollywood films in Britain would plummet by 40 per cent in 2005.
Most of the new James Bond film Casino Royale, for example, is to be made in the Czech Republic, where other filmmakers also have fled because of the uncertainty. Warner which makes Harry Potter films has said that it would continue to shoot the sequels in Britain.
