The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted action from across the global TV and video industry. Netflix halted production of shows in Russia, while pay TV providers such as Bell in Canada and Foxtel in Australia stopped transmitting Russian state-backed news channel RT, which also had its license to broadcast revoked by European media regulators such as Ofcom in the UK.
According to Ampere Analysis, commissioners typically respond to major events by commissioning documentaries and news specials to explain what is happening. However, data from Ampere’s Commissioning service indicates that 43% (12) of the 28 titles relating to the conflict that have been commissioned to date are Entertainment shows.
“These titles are primarily music concerts and titles geared towards fundraising in aid of refugees from Ukraine; aiming to inform viewers and encourage donations to help avert the growing humanitarian crisis,” commented Reade Mullen, Researcher at Ampere Analysis and the author of the report.
However, there are also titles such as “Nederland geeft thuis” (The Netherlands gives home) by Dutch public sector broadcaster NPO, looking at the initiatives taken in the country to aid refugees, and “Veillée pour l'Ukraine” (Vigil for Ukraine) by France Télévisions, a vigil where French celebrities perform readings of Ukrainian literature.
Two of the four titles commissioned in Poland, meanwhile, are directed at Ukrainian refugees themselves; an understandable move given that Ukraine is an immediate neighbor and the country has accepted more than 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees, according to the BBC. “Podaj rękę Ukrainie” (Give a hand to Ukraine) from TVP in Poland is centred on informing refugees and others what aid will be provided to them, while TVP’s show “Rozmowy na dwie głowy” (Two-head conversations), targets younger audiences, and aims to help Ukrainian refugee children tackle their emotions about the war.