PAP demands an explicit definition of the producer in the new General Law of Audiovisual Communication

The associations and federations AECINE, DIBOOS, MAPA, PIAF, PROA and PROFILM, grouped in the Audiovisual Platform of Independent Producers (PAP), show their great concern regarding the final stretch of the processing of the draft General Law on Audiovisual Communication, since in their opinion it could involve “a political and legislative decision that could put an end to independent production in Spain.”

Next Thursday, May 19, the Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation committee will vote on the amendments to the General Law of Audiovisual Communication (LGCA) before reaching the Senate, where it would be definitively approved. From PAP they warn that it is the last opportunity for those political parties that have not presented amendments to the definition of independent producer, which the LGCA includes in article 110, to support the amendments that have been presented by the political groups PDeCAT, UPN, BNG and Más País in which the PAP requests are included, and also the proposals of Podemos and EH Bildu.

The definition of independent producer It only affects the obligation of 5% investment by private audiovisual service providers, in no case the entire investment of each provider, which can apply the remaining 95% according to its own business criteria. An obligation figure, by the way, well below that of neighboring countries.

PAP denounces that certain entities in the sector intend, based on their own interests, divert attention from the independence of production to a question of the size of the company, when it is not at all a reflection of reality, since there are also large independent companies and, on the contrary, small dependent companies.

The importance of public organizations betting on a minimum number of independent productions lies in the fact that this will guarantee the future heritage of Spanish audiovisual production, generational renewal and, ultimately, a healthy and competitive industry.

From PAP they clarify that this battle is not a war between dependents and independents, but a matter of regulating the ecosystem so that all production companies have a place, and equalizing forces in the market to ensure the survival of everyone, large and small, dependent and independent.

The obligation imposed in Spain is minimal compared to that of neighboring countries and constitutes a key point to promote independent production. Likewise, the definition of an independent producer would be completely blurred if anyone can become part of it, they say from the Platform.