Junk Food or Junk TV: How will the Uk Ban on Junk Food Advertising Affect Children's Programs?

Abstract

The implementation of a partial junk food television advertising ban in the United Kingdom is adding to the woes of commercial broadcasters already under pressure in a fiercely competitive multi-channel environment. The UK free-to-air channel ITV1 recently announced the closure of its children's programs production unit and children's television production in the United Kingdom has been described as being ‘in meltdown’. The United Kingdom represents a crucial market for Australian producers of children's programs, who have traditionally sourced up to 80 per cent of their production budgets from UK partners. Australian cultural policy is adding to the challenges facing these producers, through the demands inherent in the ‘C classification. If Australia is to remain committed to the provision of dedicated children's programs, alternative sources of funding will have to be found.