MUMBAI: The BBC and the Radio Independents Group (RIG) have agreed new Terms of Trade for commissioning radio programming from independents.
The new terms apply to all programmes commissioned from independent producers since 7 December 2004, when the BBC published a draft framework for the revised terms, based on discussions with the sector. The key points of the new terms of trade are:
- Independents will own all rights (including copyright) in the programmes they produce.
- The BBC will take a licence to use programming across its networks for a period of ten years and to exercise public service new media rights.
- For all programming except comedy, drama and specialist music, there will be an automatic "break clause" after five years if the BBC no longer intends to exercise public service rights in the programme.
- The BBC will be able to extend its licence for a further five years, and on an ongoing basis for long running commissions.
- The BBC will be entitled to a share of net profit arising from the exploitation of all rights in the programming. BBC Radio and Music director Jenny Abramsky said, "We are delighted that the new terms have been agreed. We have been in consultation with the industry since December 2004 to ensure that the new deal structure was fair and represented the interests of both parties."
RIG chairman Mike Hally said, "We are delighted to have been able to represent the industry so effectively in our first year of existence. It has involved a lot of patient work – and some hard bargaining – on both sides, but the BBC team have engaged positively and constructively with us and the results amply justify the effort. Both our members and the BBC will benefit from what we are all agreed is a fair deal that consigns the 'all rights' contracts to history."
