Channel 5 has set up a training fund that will offer indies up to £15,000 to invest in developing the careers of staff and freelancers.
Vice president of productions Nan Whittingham is overseeing applications for the grants, with indies working on C5 shows free to suggest any course topics and their own choices of training provider.
The broadcaster is asking producers applying for the fund to outline how the training will benefit the individual or crew.
Meanwhile, C5 is to commit 0.25% of factual and factual entertainment budgets to training after joining ScreenSkills’ unscripted TV fund, and is committing all cast and crew on its shows to undertake its anti-bullying and harassment training.
The broadcaster is also set to adopt more flexible tariffs for its prime-time slots that address specific production requirements. Execs will now agree the genre for each prtogramme, then negotiate indicative pricing rather rather than a fixed per-hour model.
ViacomCBS Networks UK chief content Ben Frow, whose remit includes C5, said the move was designed to “ensure that fixed hourly budgets don’t put undue pressure on the production process”.
Frow is expected to elaborate on the changes in his Edinburgh TV Festival session tomorrow.
