Torfinnur Jákupsson, writer-creator of Nordic drama Trom, has called for a new High End TV (HETV) threshold – an ‘independent premium tier’.
The proposed tier would be a dedicated, lower support band within the UK HETV relief for projects with budgets between £750K and £950K per broadcast hour.
In March this year Jákupsson launched his UK development company Red Herring Story, the UK affiliate of Faroe Islands based GRÓ Studios.
Jákupsson posits that the current HETV model still leaves a blind spot for a growing segment of high-end drama that falls just below the spend threshold but is impactful in terms of its ambition and cultural value. “High-end shouldn’t just be defined by how much money you spend,” he added, “It should be defined by impact, artistry, and ambition.”
The proposal is presented as a contribution to the wider conversation following the recent UK Parliament Select Committee inquiry into British film and TV.
Trom was the first drama series made in the Faroe Islands, with Jákupsson a key component in the debate that led to the Faroese industry’s current tax rebate system. “There, it was a matter of lifting the low ceiling of support. Here, it’s about making sure the floor doesn’t shut new and independent voices out.
“The current threshold for high-end drama in the UK was set over a decade ago. It blocks access for smart scripted drama that is independently produced, regionally based, and sustainably made under £1M/hour. These shows are often critically and commercially successful yet can’t qualify for support.”
This story originally appeared on Screen Global Production's sister site The Knowledge
