Euromedia January/February 2018 EUROMEDIA_JAN-FEB 2018 | Page 6

News I Brexit risks £1bn international media investment nternational broadcasters invested a record £1.02 billion (€1.15bn) in the UK in 2017, an increase of more than 50 per cent on the comparable figure (£679m) in 2011, according to new independent research commissioned by UK trade body the Commercial Broadcasters Association, (COBA) who warn that this investment is at risk unless the Government secures access to EU markets once the UK leaves the EU. The research shows: • The importance of the UK’s status as Europe’s leading international broadcasting hub • The strong potential for growth in jobs and investment driven by international channels • The potential damage to the UK television sector if access is not secured to EU markets for international broadcasters based in the UK. The research was commissioned by the COBA, the industry body for multichannel broadcasters, from leading media analysis firm Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates. It looked at investment by channe