Independent radio producers today welcomed the recommendation by the Institute of Public Policy Research that the BBC should grow targets for indie radio commissioning.

The IPPR report, launched at the Oxford Media Convention, sets out an industrial strategy for the creative industries, and concludes that “The UK´s existing public service broadcasters, including the BBC, should provide further `venture capital for creativity´ in the wider content-production sector through their investment and commissioning policies.”

The report. ‘March of the Modern Makers: an industrial strategy for the creative industries’ also recommends that the BBC should “operate an open market for the very best creative ideas, wherever they emerge from.” It recommends that for radio, the BBC should “set targets for an expansion of the proportion of independent commissions”.

Phil Critchlow, Chair of trade body the Radio Independents Group (RIG) said: “We´ve worked incredibly hard as a sector to make the creative case for growth through consistent supply of world class content. We´re obviously encouraged therefore by the fact that the IPPR has seen the importance of balancing internal and external approaches to delivering the best content to licence fee payers.”

*** For press enquiries please contact Tim Wilson, RIG media and policy adviser, on 07909 560 374 or tim at twcentral.co.uk