Sir Phil Redmond Advocates for TV Industry Restructuring at Edinburgh Festival
Sir Phil Redmond, a legendary British TV dramatist, has been influential in creating bold storylines for Channel 4 since its founding. He previously worked on popular shows like Grange Hill, Brookside, and Hollyoaks. Redmond believes Channel 4 should consider mergers with other broadcasters to maintain its impact, noting that the current funding model for the BBC and Channel 4 is unsustainable. He suggests charging users for BBC apps as a potential replacement for the license fee, and criticizes streaming-based funding solutions as a sign of desperation. Redmond also argues that TV needs more risk-taking to address societal issues like the benefits system and immigration, and that industry leaders are too risk-averse due to fear of Ofcom fines. He calls for a radical restructuring of the TV industry to address these challenges.