A “dramatic shift in TV commissioning” has seen the UK become a world leader in high-end drama while the value of smaller shows plummets, according to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
Delivering a keynote at the Deloitte Conference, Nandy said “too many talented creatives have been left out of work” by this shift, leaving her concerned.
She said this has come as broadcast viewing declines by one third while streaming “soars,” leading to a change in the content mix.
“Take, for example, the dramatic shift in TV commissioning patterns that have seen the UK become a world leader at high-end [drama] at the same time as smaller producers have seen the value of their commissions fall by one third,” she said.
The “squeezed middle” dropping out of the UK indie market was the talk of last year’s Edinburgh TV Festival, although 2025 has been characterized by a scripted funding crisis driven by American co-producers pulling out of the UK.
Nandy said the UK government is providing solutions, however. She flagged improvements like the recent Media Act, providing a “more sustainable settlement for PSBs so they continue to invest in high quality original content,” she said.
While she pointed to smaller commissions declining, she flagged later in her speech that cheaper fare like Come Dine With Me and “everything in between” are selling just as well as big high-end dramas like Doctor Who and Bridgerton around the world.
Possibly nodding to the UK government’s refusal to impose a levy on the streamers, Nandy said she wants a “sustainable ecosystem” for both PSBs and streamers across the UK.
“We won’t penalize you through taxes and levies but ensure we have a regulatory framework that creates opportunities for business both big and small and for UK talent to be showcased across the world,” added Nandy.
Nandy was speaking at the Deloitte and Enders Media & Telecoms 2025 and Beyond Conference just prior to BBC boss Tim Davie and Netflix EMEA chief Larry Tanz.
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