Can in-house production companies and independents co-exist?

The long-running row between independent production companies and those that sit within holding companies has resurfaced in recent weeks over best practice when it comes to bidding and being selected for work. 

Production craft festival Ciclope ended its sponsorship contracts with holding companies, which began an online debate between the Advertising Producers Association (APA) and the IPA on LinkedIn.

The APA’s chief executive, Steve Davies, suggested a forum to establish best practice in bidding, while the IPA’s head of production, Eliot Liss, said: “There is no need for an industry forum of the type the APA are suggesting.” He added: “We don’t accept there is an issue with transparency or propriety in how IPA members are providing their production services to clients.” 

In this episode of The Campaign Podcast, Campaign's editorial team dig deeper into the debate, what has been leading up to it, and question whether independent and in-house production companies can co-exist alongside each other.

Tech editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode with Campaign's editor Maisie McCabe, creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings. 

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