The Industry Trust for IP Awareness and the British Video Association have laid out plans to restructure, integrating key functions "to focus greater resource on shared challenges." Following an extensive consultation process with their respective members and stakeholders, the change is intended to keep both organisations on a sustainable path in a rapidly-changing market.

Each organisation will retain its core remits. Established in 2004 to tackle the growing issue of copyright infringement in the UK, with the Industry Trust for IP Awareness will continue to serve the wider film sector including theatrical, home entertainment and retail, delivering education and marketing communications to consumers, inspiring audiences to pay for legal content and promoting FindAnyFilm.com.

The BVA will continue actively to promote the hugely successful video sector to customers, and retain provision of its authoritative research to demonstrate the importance and value of the sector. Also, the BVA will continue and re-invigorate its prestigious annual awards.

Liz Bales, the current Director General of the Industry Trust, will be appointed Chief Executive for both bodies. Lavinia Carey, who recently stepped down as Director General of the BVA, will repesent the sector?s policy interests as consultant lobbyist.

"The integration will allow the two long-standing organisations to navigate a changing landscape and ensure that equal rigour applies to industry bodies as it does to the transitioning businesses of member companies," says the communiqué. "The move will put in place a structure to enable both organisations to deliver to these challenges, and provide further efficiencies for both their members and broader stakeholders across the film, television and video industries."

"With a backdrop of a transitioning landscape of the home entertainment industry, the BVA will take a decisive step forward to promoting the benefits of the sector, communicating with consumers about the ever-popular consumption of film, TV and video within the home and on the move," says Robert Price, BVA Chair. "The integration will benefit both organisations, allowing a closer working relationship that will no doubt prove successful for both." "This integration will allow the two bodies to flourish and to meet the high expectations of their members," echoes Liz Bales.

Story filed 20.07.14