Ukrainian Broadcasters and Regulator Are Playing by Different Rules

There is no TV market in Ukraine. That’s how Katerina Kotenko, a Member of Ukraine’s National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting summed up the current situation speaking at the opening press conference of the IV International Mediaforum KYIV MEDIA WEEK. According to Mrs. Kotenko Ukraine’s media market players have not either reached any consensus or established rules of the game to play by. Besides, she is of the opinion that producers are very well in the know of what kind of content they (and thus consumers) need and therefore custom-made products as ordered by the state is an a priori forlorn attempt. It is only waste of money which is scarce anyway.

Introduction of an initiative on tax benefits for foreign production companies would be instrumental in fundraising and compensation of such companies’ production costs in the territory of Ukraine would be of special effect. While illustrating the statement, Sergey Sozanovsky, founder of FILM.UA told the attendees on support by the state in Bulgaria where a few latest seasons of Game of Thrones were therefore produced. According to Mr. Sozanovsky 20 foreign TV series totaling $1 billion produced in the territory of Ukraine would be quite sufficient to restore the homegrown market. And the $1 billion budget is not that much given the cost per episode.

It is, however, worth noting that the tax benefit program would work properly given a clear-cut procedure has been established for applications submission and scrutiny and for additional services to be provided, such as discounts for the foreign crews accommodations and uses of equipment owned by Ukrainian companies. As to the projects viewed as international coproduction they should be tested for their value in terms of cultural context which would help define those most attractive for distribution in Ukraine.

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