The fallout from the BBC's 'Crowngate' affair continues, with ITV following the BBC's example by suspending commissions from RDF, plus Channel 4 and Five unsurprisingly not following suit because RDF means too much to them. This naturally highlights a weakness of Channel 4's current situation which is particularly pertinent in the context of recent events.
Put simply, both ITV and the BBC have a history of (and still predominantly make) in-house productions, so offloading RDF isn't the big deal it could have been compared to a broadcaster like Channel 4. This also gives the impression that both BBC and ITV are using independent producers because the market demands it and not because they really want to.
So ITV can afford to take the high moral ground on this issue, though Michael Grade really had no choice given recent proclamations on the issues of trust and integrity. (Whether this would have happened if Charles Allen was still in charge of ITV is another issue entirely.)
This has however dumped a very uncomfortable spotlight on Channel 4. Despite Luke Johnson and Andy Duncan's new-found commitment to public service broadcasting after its recent troubles, not being able to follow the BBC and ITV's example is damaging regardless of whether or not it is justifiable. (And of course not really applicable to other commercial broadcasters.)
What's significant about this chain of events is that it has spotlighted the dangers of broadcasters over-relying on a particular independent producer, and has also helped to emphasise a key weakness of the publisher-broadcaster model that has been in vogue for many years and continues to influence current and future broadcasting developments.
If Channel 4 cannot abandon RDF then it weakens any commitment to public service no matter what Luke Johnson and Andy Duncan may say publicly, and it also highlights the need for an alternative mechanism of funding for the channel if they are to truly pursue a public service remit as a broadcaster.
Plus maybe - just maybe - this could start the beginning of a trend for major broadcasters to start relying more on in-house productions, but that of course would be politically sensitive as well as upsetting organisations such as PACT that represent independent producers. However this may be the only way for the BBC and ITV to truly regain control of their productions.
