High-end TV cultural test changes go live in July

The changes to the cultural test for high-end television programmes - carried out on behalf of the government by the BFI - will come into force on Thursday 23 July after being approved by Parliament last week.

The updates include changes to regulations to the cultural test for drama and documentary television programmes, as well as introducing a new cultural test for children's programmes.

The latter was a result of a recent campaign spearheaded by Pact, which saw the UK tax relief being extended to include children's TV.

The purpose of the tests is to determine whether a programme may call itself a British production, and be therefore eligible for tax incentives.

The test sees points being awarded on the basis of its characters and talent, cultural contribution, cultural content (storyline), locations and language. The new standards also see diversity as a factor for productions to gain more points. 
 



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