In one of the first Europe-wide moves, the Paris-based, one of the continent’s most-prestigious industry associations, is calling on national governments and the European Union to implement a 10-point rescue plan vital for Europe’s film and TV industries’ survival.
“We can’t control what the streamers will buy but there will certainly be more people watching their services more than ever,” Longoria said, adding that the EPC intended to initiate a dialog with streaming platforms. She cited a study published by Spanish news website Formula TV on Thursday, two days before prime minister Pedro Sanchez declared a nationwide lockdown in Spain, suggesting that already TV audiences had grown 2.1% in the country on March 11, compared to the four prior Wednesdays, primarily out of interest in catching news updates about Covid-19.
The EPC emergency action plan reiterates key measures announced March 12 by France’s CNC film and TV board. Petitions include a delay in payment of taxes and social security related to production shoots, plus the creation of emergency government funds — but now for the whole of Europe — to cover the costs of production shutdowns and payment of freelance personnel.
He added: “These measures are aimed to be temporary and to benefit everybody. We certainly don’t want to take distributors and exhibitors out of the equation, They have to be compensated for losses as well.”