Blue Lights boosted Northern Ireland's economy by £20 million across first two series

A new report has shown the economic impact of BBC Northern Ireland TV shows on the local economy.

The BBC Economic Impact Report for Northern Ireland, published to coincide with the centenary of the BBC in NI, highlights the contribution that the BBC makes to the development of the local creative industries and provides an outline of the local independent production sector as it currently stands.

The report highlights that in 2023/24, the BBC invested £112 million in to Northern Ireland with approximately £58m of this was invested in local services via BBC Northern Ireland and a further £42m was invested by BBC Network services.

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Some of the key findings revealed:

• The police drama Blue Lights has generated an estimated £20m in GVA (gross value added) to the Northern Ireland economy across its first two series

• It is estimated that across the four series of Hope Street, £17.5m has been generated in GVA for Northern Ireland through employment and spending in the supply chain

• Entertainment series Mastermind and Celebrity Mastermind have generated around £6m GVA to the Northern Ireland economy across the five series it has filmed in Belfast

• More than 280 jobs have been supported through Blue Lights and Hope Street alone

The report also shows that more than 80% of the production budget for the first two series of Blue Lights was spent within Northern Ireland.

The series, made by Two Cities Television, employed an average of 59 cast of which 83% were either born in or a resident of Northern Ireland and of the 246 crew, more than 87% were local.

Around 71% of the spend on Hope Street, made by Longstory TV, was retained within Northern Ireland.

Since its move to Belfast, Mastermind, made by Hindsight and Hat Trick Productions, has also made a significant contribution to the local economy - between 51% and 59% of the production budget was spent within Northern Ireland and each series employs around 40 local crew.

In 2023/24, independent production companies supplied 100% of both drama and comedy from Northern Ireland, and almost 60% of factual programming.

Much of this is underpinned by the BBC’s partnership with Northern Ireland Screen which has resulted in some of the BBC’s biggest dramas coming from Northern Ireland, including Line Of Duty, Bloodlands, The Fall and Blue Lights.

The BBC Economic Impact Report also considers the training pipeline that supports screen industry careers in Northern Ireland and explores how the BBC is uncovering new voices in the region.

Speaking at the Belfast Media Festival, BBC Director General Tim Davie said: “Today there can be no doubt about the world-class offer of this sector, and the creative firepower of this nation.

"Big, multi-series BBC dramas like Blue Lights have played a key role in helping to drive and embed that change, and returning series like Hope Street are vital in both showcasing the skills on offer here and providing a career pathway for individuals to develop.

"But perhaps most important of all is the fact that shows like these are telling the unique, authentic stories of this place and its people.

“I believe a thriving and sustainable screen industry in Northern Ireland needs the BBC at its heart. A BBC that, in its second century here, is more committed than ever before to working with the sector and backing its future.”

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