Jane Featherstone reflects on ‘difficult months’ for the TV sector
Sister co-founder Jane Featherstone has said Britain’s shrinking TV market has created a “tough few months” for production companies.
“Some are closed and people are losing their jobs,” she said. “Producers like me are trying to navigate how we have a mixed ecology [between public service broadcasters and deep-pocketed U.S. streamers.]”
“We are in a structural change where there will be some kind of consolidation to help us get through this,” she added.
“When we all started [in the industry] Twenty-five years ago there were not so many people and the market was in a completely different place. I don’t see doom and gloom forever. I think we are in a moment of transition. I really believe that in the next two or three years the value will come back to the producers and that producers will be valued again in that way.”
Featherstone launched Sister in 2015, with Elizabeth Murdoch coming on board as a minority shareholder. The company is known for shows like Benedict Cumberbatch-starring “Eric,” which recently premiered on Netflix, and the BBC legal drama “The Split.” The company will be run by Los Angeles-based global CEO Cindy Holland, while Featherstone will remain on board as CCO.
Featherstone spoke at the Royal Television Society conference in London on Tuesday afternoon on a panel entitled “How do we value our industry?” In addition to JP Morgan banking director Harry Hampson and former BBC chairman Richard Sharp. The panel was chaired by journalist Kamal Ahmed.
Other speakers at the RTS conference include Netflix boss Ted Sarandos, BBC director general Tim Davie and football star turned TV producer David Beckham.
