Creative sector fills UK coffers as money pours into film and TV production

Combined TV, film and music industry grew almost 11% in second half of 2016, underpinned by digitally savvy UK consumers

At a time when the British economy is looking for leadership, step forward Darth Vader, Adele and Queen Victoria. One of the reasons GDP growth has stayed robust since the EU referendum is the UK’s creative sector, which has produced buoyant box office receipts thanks to Star Wars, healthy sales of Adele’s latest album and global demand for homegrown TV productions such as Victoria.

The combined UK film, TV and music industry boomed in the second half of last year, growing almost 11% compared with the previous six months, according to government figures. In December alone, the film sector accounted for half of all growth in the key services sector – which accounts for 80% of the British economy – because of box-office takings from UK-made Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Continue reading...