Previous campaigns
CMF campaign activity
2021
November
House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee publishes their report on the proposed privatisation of Channel 4.
October
CMF response to the government consultation on regulating audience standards on VOD services. This important consultation by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport considers the question of whether and how on-demand services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime should be brought into line with the standards applied by regulation to broadcast channels.
CMF responded to the BFI 'Next Up' consultation on its future 10-year strategy and priorities for the funding it receives from the National Lottery. CMF broadly supported the BFI aspiration to concern itself with television and interactive media (as well as film), pointed out that it already does so in relation to its operation of the Young Audiences Content Fund, and proposed that the BFI apply Lottery funding as part of a mixed financing option to continue the YACF beyond its three-year pilot. CMF encouraged BFI to bid for enhanced Lottery Funding to support this expanded role.
September
CMF response to the DCMS consultation on the possible privatisation of Channel 4 and in similar vein our submission to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee Inquiry on the Future of Channel 4.
August
CMF response to the Ofcom consultation on the Future of Media Plurality, with special reference to children, teens and news.
July
Ofcom makes its recommendations to government about the future for public service media, as initially explored in its Small Screen: Big Debate Report.
CMF publishes its 160-page Report on the future of public service media for children and young people: Our Children's Future: Does Public Service Media Matter?
April
CMF response to The BBC Public Interest Consultation on BBC Three / CBBC.
March
BBC issues Public Interest Consultation on its plans to re-launch BBC Three as a broadcast channel, This in part entails CBBC Channel handing back 2 hours of airtime (7 - 9pm) nightly. BBC Three plans to serve the 13-15 year-old audience in this time slot.
CMF responds to Ofcom's consultation on its Report: Small Screen: Big Debate - which will form the basis of Ofcom's recommendations to government on the future of public service media in the UK.
2020
September
CMF has responded to Ofcom's call for evidence related to the government's plan for it to regulate Video Sharing Platforms (VSP) based in the UK.
July
Ofcom decides to allow the BBC to decrease the number of Newsround bulletins, and reduces quota for news hours and all originations on the CBBC Channel. The CMF registers its disagreement.
April
DCMS consultation on decriminalising the Television Licence fee. CMF Response.
January
Baroness Howe brings a Private Members Bill in the Lords to force the government to enact Part 3 of the 2017 Digital Economy Act which had been dropped. Part 3 implements age-verification for legal porn websites, with the regulator given powers to block sites which fail to comply. CMF supports.
2019
December
CMF's response to the Ofcom Newsround and BBC Children's Originations consultation. Plus an independent response by three members of the CMF Academic Advisory Board, Professors Jeanette Steemers (Kings College London) and Máire Messenger Davies (Ulster University), and Dr Cynthia Carter (Cardiff University).
November
Ofcom launches their consultation into a BBC proposal to reduce the number of Newsround Bulletins on the CBBC Channel and use the resources to offer more Newsround content online, with the consequent requirement to change the quota hours for children's news in their Operating Licence, and reduce the quota of originations in total, by 50 hours. The BBC also proposed that content made for online-only distribution be considered in future as part of their overall quota hours.
July
CMF response to the government Online Harms White Paper.
June
CMF response to the government consultation on further advertising restrictions for products high in fat, salt and sugar.
April
The government launched their Online Harms White Paper - following the extensive Green Paper consultation in December 2017.
The Information Commissioner's Office has issued a draft guideline on age appropriate design with the aim of creating a code of practice for online services. CMF's consultation response is here.
March
The House of Lords Communications Select Committee launched an Inquiry into Public Service Broadcasting in the Age of Video on Demand. The CMF response is here.
The government announced a consultation on further advertising restrictions for products high in fat, salt and sugar. Their aim is to reduce children’s exposure to HFSS advertising, to reduce children’s overconsumption of these products, to tackle childhood obesity.
February
The BFI shared their draft criteria for producers applying to the Young Audiences Content Fund (formerly the Contestable Fund).
CMF responded with a number of questions, and expressed concern that the way the criteria were formulated could allow organisations providing platforms for the proposed content to avoid co-financing. Some of CMF's practical suggestions were incorporated into the final version of the guidelines.
Subsequently in private and at a meeting of the Children's Media and the Arts APPG, the BFI has reassured that, as a pilot, the Fund will remain flexible and responsive to uptake and any difficulties being experienced by producers in accessing it. They have also clarified that they will not fund projects for platforms that do not come up with at least some of the match funding.
2018
December
Ofcom consulted on new guidelines on how to handle age verification around "specially restricted material" as defined in the BBFC film certification process, when the restricted material appears on Video on Demand services. The CMF response makes it clear we consider the new guideline too limited, as it appears to avoid considering harms other than those associated with pornography.
October
The DCMS has handed over the plans for their newly announced Young Audiences Content Fund to the British Film Institute, which will fine-tune the criteria and operation of the Fund prior to launch in April 2019.
A DCMS policy paper revealed the detailed plans for the Contestable Fund - including £57m over tree years for a Young Audiences Content Fund to be fine tuned and operated by the BFI. The Fund will provide up to 50% of finance for projects that will be shown on a platform that is free at the point of use (which suggests ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5). Content proposals will have to meet criteria around diversity, nations and regions representation, quality and innovation. Content for indigenous UK languages will make up 5% of the output. There will also be a development element to the Fund.
The BFI will be working with industry stakeholders on fine-tuning, Our reaction to the plan is broadly supportive but with concerns about over-emphasis on newcomers producing content. We are calling for a broad mix, from the challenging and innovative to tried and trusted genres such as drama and comedy - to ensure a wide reach.
July
Ofcom reveal the findings of their Children's Media Review and their plan to persuade ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to commission more children's and youth content.
CMF made a statement welcoming Ofcom's analysis of the issues and their desired outcomes, but disappointed at the failure to regulate.
May
The UK Government announced the next phase of its Internet Safety Strategy
CMF Response to the House of Lords Communications Committee inquiry into regulation of the internet.
January
CMF Response to the Ofcom consultation on the Children's Content Review, which will inform planning of potential new regulations for children's content on the Commercial Public Service Broadcasters.
2017
December
CMF Statement welcoming the government decision to dedicate the whole of the £60m Contestable Fund for Public Service Content to children's content.
CMF response to the DCMS Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper. CMF Board member Professor Jeanette Steemers has submitted a further response on similar lines.
The Children's Commissioner for England has contributed to the debate on children's well-being online in two reports: Growing Up Digital in January 2017 and Life in Likes on the use of social media by 8-12 year olds (January 2018).
November
The DCMS launched a consultation on its Green Paper on Internet Safety Strategy. Children and young people feature significantly.
October
The CMF commissioned a Report - Can We Fix It at CMC2017 on the July Children's Media Conference session that dealt with various concerns around children's internet use, and polled industry professionals for their views on potential solutions. This was sent to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the opening day of their consultation on the government Green Paper on their Internet Safety Strategy.
July
CMF Response to the Ofcom consultation on Regulating the BBC, with specific reference to quotas for content on children's services.
February
CMF response to the DCMS consultation on proposals for a Public Service Broadcasting Contestable Fund.
2016
December
CMF supplementary evidence to the House of Lords Inquiry on Children and the Internet.
November
CMF letter to Channel 5 on increasing children's commissioning budgets.
CMF Press Release on decision to run the CITV Channel without a specialist team.
October
CMF submission to the Parliamentary consultation on the Digital Economy Bill.
CMF's presentation to the 'Drawn Together' Summit in Parliament, on Children's Arts and Culture.
August
The CMF response to the House of Lords Inquiry on Children and the Internet
May
CMF supported research by Professor Jeanette Steemers (Westminster University) into contestable funds and how they operate in a variety of territories: Policy Solutions and International Perspectives on the Funding of Public Service Media Content for Children: A Report for Stakeholders. Executive summary. Full Report.
CMF Statement in response to the government White Paper on the future of the BBC.
April
CMF Statement on Ofcom's demand that Channel 4 draw up plans to better serve the 10-14 audience.
CMF Statement on Sky's decision to commission UK children's content.
CMF submitted a response response to the House of Lords Committee on Communications Inquiry into the Sustainability of Channel 4.
February
CMF brought together a meeting of the key campaigning bodies focusing on children's content in the BBC Charter Review process. The meeting was attended by PACT, the VLV, Animation UK and some producers. It issued a Joint statement calling upon the BBC to protect the children's budget at 8% of overall spending (slightly higher than currently).
Subsequently CMF arranged for members of this group, and children's content producers, to meet the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, John Whittingdale, at a consultative round-table. The meeting was dedicated to the children's issues discussed in the DCMS Green Paper and was intended to inform the preparation of the White Paper on BBC Charter Review due to be published in May 2016.
CMF Chair Anna Home's follow-up lettter to the Secretary of State neatly sums up the position we expressed in the meeting,
January
CMF contributed a children's audience focused submission to the Goldsmith's University review: 'A Future for Public Service Television’, chaired by Lord Puttnam.
2015
December
Briefed by CMF, Baroness Floella Benjamin asked the DCMS six written Parliamentary questions about the government's support for children's media as a social force, their view on market failure, on a contestable fund and whether commercial PSBs can be stimulated to commission children's content.
November
CMF Response sent to BBC Trust consultation on BBC Management proposals for Charter Review. 
"Tomorrow's BBC - Creating an Open more Distinctive BBC".
CMF met the Trust to explain our proposal that the BBC commits to increase budgets for children's and youth content over the next ten years.
October
CMF Chair, Anna Home met BBC Director General Tony Hall and has since exchanged correspondence on the need for the BBC to make a long-term commitment to more funding for its children's and youth content.
CMF Response sent to the DCMS Consultation - BBC Charter Review (responding to the government's Green Paper proposals).
September
CMF Response sent to the BBC Charter Review Consultation, Parliamentary Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport.
CMF Response sent to the What's the BBC For? Consultation, House of Lords Select Committee on Communications.
CMF Response sent to the BBC Trust Second Consultation on Plans for BBC Three and related extension to CBBC Channel.
CMF Response sent to the BBC Trust Consultation on Tomorrow's BBC.
June
Contribution to the Broadcast magazine round-table on the state of the children's TV industry in the UK.
Participation in the "Protect the BBC" event in Parliament convened by Broadcast magazine and the Coalition of Creative Industries trades unions.
April
Briefing meeting with new Director of BBC Children's.
March
Campaign planning round table on the future of the BBC with former Heads of BBC Children's.
February
CMF Response to Ofcom consultation: Public Service Content in a Connected Society, Ofcom's 3rd Review of Public Service Broadcasting.
Associated reports: PSB Annual Report including Children's Analysis
CMF Response to Ofcom consultation on Channel 4 Corporation's delivery of its media content duties (2010 - 2013). .
CMF Response to BBC Trust consultation on changing BBC Three to an Online service and related activities including the extension of CBBC Channel airtime to 9pm.
2014
December
Letter to the Chancellor supporting the creation of a children's television tax incentive on cultural grounds - signed by over 30 figures in the arts, academia and media.
June
Appearance before Parliamentary Select Committee for Culture Media and Sport - perspective on future of the BBC.
January
Written evidence to Parliamentary Select Committee for Culture Media and Sport for their enquiry into the Future of the BBC.
2013
November
CMF Response to the Office of Fair Trading Final Consultation on Online Games and in-app payments.
June
CMF contribution (via the All Party Parliamentary Group) to OFT Review of Free Children's Web and App-based Games.
May
CMF Response to the BBC Trust Children's Service Review.
January
CMF Response to the BBC Trust Review of Online and Red Button Services.
2012
November
CMF response to the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee call for evidence by Parliamentary Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport. on "Support for the Creative Economy" Inquiry.
August
Treasury: call for responses to the proposed Tax Relief scheme for the UK animation industry CMF response to the Treasury Consultation on the proposed Tax Relief Scheme for the UK Animation Industry
July
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Children's Media and the Arts was asked to contribute a media perspective to The All Party Parliamentary Group for Children, on the subject of their Inquiry: "Are children getting the opportunities they want?". The CMF acts as secretariat for the All Party Group and composed this response.
June
CMF submission to the BFI consultation on the future of UK film Outcome: The BFI "Film Forever" plan
March
CMF response to European Commission/DCMS consultation on proposed new Creative Europe programme.
February
CMF response to Parliamentary Select Committee for Culture Media and Sport consultation on media plurality
2011
December
CMF response to BBC Trust: consultation on BBC Executive's proposals "Delivering Quality First".
November
CMF/SKTV response to Ofcom consultation on Measuring Media Plurality CMF response to Ofcom consultation on "Measuring Media Plurality". Outcome: Ofcom report "Measuring Media Plurality".
September
CMF response to DCMS: Film Review
CMF responses to DCMS Film review questionnaire