Edinburgh TV Festival had become costly, exclusive, elitist and in decline so will not be missed

The Edinburgh TV Festival has become notoriously expensive for hotels and venues. Critics argue this prices out freelancers, emerging talent, working-class voices, and a broader range of attendees, making the event feel elitist or inaccessible. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/nov/20/edinburgh-tv-festival-could-move-cost-working-class-voices

Long-time observers claim it has declined from its early intellectual ambitions focusing on ‘big’ debates about the medium, more “waffling” by commissioning editors and networking for work. The MacTaggart Lecture has drawn specific complaints about lacking the provocative edge of past years. https://deadline.com/2025/11/edinburgh-television-festival-could-relocate-bidding-process-1236624486/

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3 thoughts on “Edinburgh TV Festival had become costly, exclusive, elitist and in decline so will not be missed”

  1. maybe it should be held in London?

    sounds like the British establishment are running it anyway so why would we want it in Edinburgh…

    John Lawson

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  2. As one who stopped watching television years ago I am not really qualified to comment. The reason I ‘left’ television watching was the biased and uninformed reporting. I get my news from other sources and I’m better informed I think. However, I would remark that it is another ‘cultural institution’ being removed from Scotland.

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