The majority of people working in the UK’s media and creative sector oppose Brexit and believe leaving the European Union will damage the global role of Britain’s film, TV and advertising sectors.
Our survey of 686 people working in the TV, film, media production, creative and advertising sectors, was carried out during March and early April, and found that 67% of respondents believe Brexit
will have a negative impact on the UK’s creative economy.
However 22% of respondents took a different view and argued that leaving the EU would have a positive impact on the media sector – with 11% uncertain of the impact.
Many of the respondents feared Brexit could hit the international sales of UK films and TV shows along with production of international movies and dramas being made in the UK.
The survey found that:
- 63% of people in media businesses believe Brexit it will have a negative impact on their own business.
- However 18% believed it would have a positive effect with 19% not certain.
The effect of Brexit on the economy and trading were cited as the key areas of concern by 62% of respondents, with Britain’s influence in the world (10%) and jobs (9%) being the second and third key reasons for people’s view.
People working in media production services – those providing locations, equipment and post production services to TV shows and films being made in the UK were the most concerned about the impact of Brexit – with 71% saying it would have a negative impact on their business, compared to 66% of film professionals and 59% of those working in TV.
Concerns included how difficult it would be to make TV shows and films in mainland Europe, the impact on British creatives working abroad, the effect on the economy and the impact on selling British TV programmes and movies internationally.
However the TV sector has the largest proportion of people believing it would be good for their market to exit the EU with 19% saying it would benefit the sector.
Respondents were asked about impact on their businesses and sectors – but also about their personal view – and there was a strong pro-EU sentiment among most of the industry when asked their personal opinion.
On a personal basis just under 69% were in favour of remaining in the EU with 27% wanting to leave and just 4% undecided.
Reasons given for wanting to stay in the EU included free trade and sale of films and TV and other intellectual property among EU members, movement of skills and people for production across Europe and a strong belief that the UK’s role as a global creative centre would be damaged by withdrawal.
Conor Dignam, CEO of MBI, which carried out the survey said: “The survey results clearly show the anxiety many in the media and creative sector have about the potential risks around Brexit. British film and TV is now part of a global business and there’s obvious concern about creating new barriers to creative and media companies and talent that needs to compete on an international basis.
“The verdict of the creative sector is firmly against Brexit based on our survey”.
Notes and contact
Media Business Insight is a B2B information, publishing and events business focussing on the creative and media industry. Its brands include Broadcast, Screen International, Shots, ALF, BRAD and The Knowledge and reach more than 100,000 people working in the international creative sector.
For further information contact: Conor Dignam – MBI, CEO – M: +447540 413351
The breakdown of UK respondents per industry:
o TV: 251
o Film: 238
o Media / Production Services: 69
o Advertising and Marketing: 57
o Other: 71
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Ant-Brexit Comments |
Pro-Brexit Comments |
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“As an example; if I get called on at the last minute to record a show in, say Germany, I just get on a plane and go. All the equipment is there, and I'm there. No fuss. Image what that is like with border control and customs restrictions. I might end up at a show and not have a vital piece of equipment. Opportunity: Meet Drain”.
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“Cost of living in the UK is higher than in a lot of EU countries. Therefore it is cheaper to employ 'foreign' crew than UK crew. It is literally impossible for us to compete, so less of us are employed and employment is shorter. This is specifically re: low and medium budget movies. It is having a BIG and negative impact on us. Till someone somewhere finds a way to neutralise the cost difference, UK crew will continue to lose out on jobs and suffer”.
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Clearly the economic case for the creative industries to. Stay in EU are overwhelming with better market access better access to talent and labour better access to funding and capital
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“Outside influence has little influence on our ability to find and nurture UK talent. Outside of the UK our biggest market and partner is the US. Our current trading position with them does not hamper our ability to work with them.
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“Affordable travel, no need for separate visas, working relationships, crew, fluid trading, locations, ease of transfer - all of these would be a thing of the past”.
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“Our creativity and UK brand is world-renowned and its distinctiveness a major selling point. The goal of the EU is a homogenised non-discript non-culturally-diverse mass of workers, with exchange and availability across borders the key to driving down wages across the entire EU. If you want to be part of that, well, you may want to seek some professional help...”
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“Free movement of labour within Europe is attractive to the US studios who provide a lot of income for the UK market”. “In my view we share too many close ties both from a educational and work perspective with European creative institutions. If we left, those ties would be undone and potential European grants and opportunities to teach and work in Europe would be harder for the UK film and general creative industries”.
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Because the EU hinders creativity & risk due to its cultural differences. The UK should be known around the world as having its own culture and brand of creativity.
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“The EU is our biggest trade partner, it would be madness to construct barriers to business with France, Germany, Italy and all the other secondary sales markets for UK content”.
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“Will be interesting to see if the support through programmes like the EU Media ones will be replicated internally from the money saved on EU contributions. Somehow I doubt it as the DCMS will not ramp up the manpower required to manage the process. Perhaps an opportunity to streamline the whole thing, but it will likely fall off the road until someone realises kids TV was dependent on EU cash.
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“Film is a collaborative global business and is based on flexibility and inclusion, movement and influx of ideas, talent and funds, in the long run exclusion and withdrawal only serves to contract and reduce and is counter intuitive to expansion and growth, the global psychology is no different from individual psychology, people and their talents and funds are drawn to where they are welcome and feel included, there's no surprise the UK is a major cultural and film hub of the world and not Russia”.
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Britain needs to maintain its own independence, democracy and unique historical heritage. The ever expanding conglomeration of disparate cultures and ideologies will have a negative impact on what is Britain….As far as the film industry is concerned our Royal Heritage and architecture is unique in the world and our vast range of locations serve as a great opportunity for film makers. Our crews and facilities are second to none.
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Free movement, free trade, access to EU creative subsidies, access and free movement of talent.
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“Leaving the EU will mean more opportunities for Brits working in Britain however it will hurt those who rely on EU funds and European co-productions. There will be a temporary downturn in the economy as a whole and it will mean that many production companies will sadly fold or suffer but for some people this will spell a whole world of opportunities especially if you are entrepreneurial. I for one believe that even though it has its risks leaving the EU is worth it”. |
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If the the UK voted to leave the EU, do you believe it would have a positive or a negative impacour business? |
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Overall UK |
Film |
TV |
Media - Production services |
Advertising - Marketing |
Other |
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Positive |
18.2% |
15.5% |
18.7% |
10.1% |
14.0% |
26.8% |
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Not certain |
19.2% |
18.5% |
21.9% |
18.8% |
22.8% |
19.7% |
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Negative |
62.5% |
66.0% |
59.4% |
71.0% |
63.2% |
53.5% |
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Out of the following topics, which one influenced your answer the most? |
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Answer Options |
Overall UK |
Film |
TV |
Media - Production services |
Advertising - Marketing |
Other |
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Welfare |
1.2% |
1.3% |
1.2% |
1.4% |
0.0% |
1.4% |
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Tax |
2.6% |
3.8% |
2.8% |
0.0% |
3.5% |
0.0% |
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Other (please specify) |
7.3% |
7.6% |
5.2% |
7.2% |
3.5% |
16.9% |
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Immigration |
8.2% |
7.6% |
7.2% |
8.7% |
12.3% |
9.9% |
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Jobs |
8.7% |
8.4% |
10.0% |
7.2% |
12.3% |
4.2% |
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Britain’s influence in the world |
9.6% |
10.5% |
11.2% |
5.8% |
8.8% |
5.6% |
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Economy and trading |
62.4% |
60.9% |
62.5% |
69.6% |
59.6% |
62.0% |
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From a personal perspective, do you think Britain should remain member of the EU or leave? |
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Answer Options |
Overall UK |
Film |
TV |
Media - Production services |
Advertising - Marketing |
Other |
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Undecided |
4.2% |
4.6% |
5.6% |
1.4% |
3.5% |
1.4% |
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Leave |
27.1% |
25.2% |
29.1% |
23.2% |
15.8% |
39.4% |
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Remain |
68.7% |
70.2% |
65.3% |
75.4% |
80.7% |
59.2% |
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Do you think it is in the interests of the whole creative industry for the UK to remain a member of the EU? |
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Answer Options |
Overall UK |
Film |
TV |
Media - Production services |
Advertising - Marketing |
Other |
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Don't know |
11.1% |
10.1% |
13.5% |
10.1% |
10.5% |
7.0% |
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No |
22.0% |
20.6% |
23.1% |
14.5% |
15.8% |
35.2% |
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Yes |
66.9% |
69.3% |
63.3% |
75.4% |
73.7% |
57.7% |
