BBC Studios stops licensing content to Russia after TV association called for trade suspension
BBC Studios stops licensing content to Russian customers as UK cinema and TV association calls on studios behind Sherlock, Line of Duty and Vigil to suspend trade with the country
The Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television has urged the suspensionIt wants its famous members to suspend co-operation and trade with RussiaAlliance includes Line of Duty and Sherlock film and TV production firms
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The BBC became the latest media organisation to suspend co-operation with Russia today as it announced it had stopped all content licensing with commercial customers in the country.
Earlier, a major cinema and TV association had called on its members to suspend co-operation and trade with Russia.
The Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (Pact) – the UK’s trade association for independent producers – also removed all Russian production and business information from its website.
The association has among its members Hartswood Films, which produced the TV series Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and World Productions, which counts Line of Duty and Vigil among its shows.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the association called for the ‘cessation of hostilities in Ukraine’ and expressed sympathy to those in the country.
Later, a BBC spokesman announced that the corporation’s commercial arm – BBC Studios – had stopped licensing content to media organisations in Russia.
They said: ‘In common with other media organisations, we have been monitoring events closely.
‘The BBC’s executive team were meeting today and they have decided to stop all content licensing to Russian customers.’
The BBC became the latest media organisation to suspend co-operation with Russia today as it announced it had stopped all content licensing with commercial customers in the country
A BBC spokesman said: ‘In common with other media organisations, we have been monitoring events closely. The BBC’s executive team were meeting today and they have decided to stop all content licensing to Russian customers’
Earlier, a major cinema and TV association had called on its members to suspend co-operation and trade with Russia. The Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television has urged the suspension on Twitter
World Productions, which counts Line of Duty and Vigil among its shows, is a Pact member
Pact’s statement had read: ‘Pact expresses our deepest sympathy for the people of Ukraine, and in particular our colleagues working in Ukraine’s film and television sector.
‘Along with other industry organisations, Pact calls for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and for a resolution of conflict by diplomatic means respecting the rule of law and the rights of the Ukrainian people.
‘International sanctions are being implemented against the Russian Government.
Hartswood Films, which produced the TV series Sherlock, is a Pact alliance member
‘Whilst Pact sympathises with Russian creatives who do not have the same freedoms and safeguards that we enjoy in the United Kingdom, Pact has removed all Russian production and business information from its website and calls on members to suspend all co-operation and trade with Russia for the time being.
‘Pact joins the call of millions in expressing our fervent hope for peace.’
This business joins many others in distancing itself from Russia as Western countries increase sanctions against the nation.
Several major Hollywood entertainment companies, including Warner Bros, Sony Pictures and The Walt Disney Company, have paused the release of films in Russia in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
