Our work

Our work falls under five main areas :-

1. Research

Research is a vital aspect of the BVA’s annual business plan. We are the authoritative source of home entertainment industry statistical information. Working closely with partner organisations such as the Official Charts Company Gfk, and MRIB, we produce monthly, quarterly and annual research reports exclusively for our members on the UK and Irish hardware and software markets. We carry out annual consumer surveys through IPSOS and TNS into important aspects of the entertainment industry. We also consult with experts in our field such as Screen Digest and Future Source Consulting to obtain a view of future trends.

Each year we publish the BVA Yearbook with detailed analysis of the previous year's retail data, rental transactions, market shares, trends and consumer usage and attitudinal findings. This is available to buy online through our website as a downloadable pdf file or an A5 hard copy. Our members receive copies of the Yearbook – considered the definitive guide to the home entertainment industry – for free. Our research provides essential market intelligence to assist our members with their strategic planning.

2. Media Relations & Marketing

The BVA’s communications strategy is designed to address our membership, national and trade media and government outreach objectives. Media relations and marketing are used to disseminate news about developments in home entertainment markets and services and to promote awareness of new platforms, such as the current work to support Blu-ray discs, with screenings, demonstrations and generic promotional campaigns. Our hugely popular annual awards event is the high-light of the industry’s social calendar and provides an excellent opportunity to network with friends and colleagues.

In March 2004 the BVA set up the Industry Trust for IP Awareness, an audiovisual initiative to improve public understanding of the value and significance of copyright work for future entertainment.

3. Public Affairs

The BVA’s lobbying strategy aims to foster the optimum business environment, working towards the least burdensome regulatory regime in which its members have to conduct their commercial activities. Government liaison accounts for a major portion of BVA time and effort, now covering a greater number of government departments (up from four to six) since Gordon Brown took office.  Industry regulation and reform of intellectual property law dominate the BVA’s lobbying work.

The BVA is the founding member of the Alliance Against IP Theft, a cross industry lobbying group campaigning for improved enforcement against copyright theft and legislative reform to ensure British creativity and innovation is properly protected and rewarded.

In the European forum, the BVA lobbies Brussels through its membership of the International Video Federation.

4. Industry Liaison

The BVA is the mouthpiece of the home entertainment sector. Good cooperation between trade bodies in the audiovisual industry is important to the well being of business and the BVA maintains an open dialogue with a range of organisations. In some cases this is assisted by the participation of distributors in BVA Committees. 

The BVA acts as a conduit and information provider between its members and key organisations such as:

• The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) 
• The British Phonographic Institute (BPI) 
• The British Screen Advisory Council (BSAC)
  
• The Cinema Exhibitors Association (CEA)
• The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA)
• Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA)
  
• The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT)
  
• Film Distributors Association (FDA)
• MCPS / PRS Alliance
• The Motion Picture Association (MPA)
  
• UK Film Council (UKFC)
  
• Video Standards Council (VSC)    

5. Charitable Activities

Charitable support and giving is an integral component of most organisations’ corporate policy as a way for business to give something back to the community. As a representative of a popular industry, we consider vulnerable children, who are either not loved, not in a secure family, or who are struggling to cope with disabilities or caring for one or both parents, are particularly in need of help from those who are more fortunate. 
 
Since the early 80's the BVA has co-ordinated industry efforts to raise funds for the largest children’s charity in the UK, Action For Children through industry events and the production and sale of tailor made children’s video titles, such as Calling All Toddlers, My Best Friends and Making Children Smile. In that time the BVA has raised over £3.5 million for the charity, which this year celebrates 140 years of helping the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential.
 
The video industry has also raised funds for the Pre-school Learning Alliance and the NSPCC.