INSURANCE GUIDE
Film and Media Insurance UK
Production liability, equipment cover, cast insurance and E&O for UK film, TV and media productions.
TL;DR
- Production insurance bundles liability, equipment, cast and E&O into a single policy for the duration of a production.
- Errors and omissions insurance is required by broadcasters and distributors before a production can be released.
- Cast insurance covers the cost of production delays if a key cast member is unable to perform.
- Equipment insurance covers cameras, lighting, and sound equipment against damage and theft on and off set.
What Production Insurance Covers
A production insurance policy is a package specifically designed for the duration of a single film, TV, or media production. It typically includes: production liability (public liability for the production); equipment and props cover; cast insurance; errors and omissions insurance; negative film or digital media cover; and sometimes stunts and special effects cover. The policy starts on the first day of pre-production and ends after post-production is complete.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance for media productions covers claims arising from the content of the production itself - copyright infringement, defamation, invasion of privacy, and unauthorised use of music or other intellectual property. Broadcasters, streaming platforms, and distributors require E&O insurance as a condition of agreeing to broadcast or distribute a production. Without it, a completed production may be unsellable regardless of its quality.
Cast and Key Person Insurance
Cast insurance covers the additional production costs - reshoots, delays, standby costs - if a key cast member is unable to perform due to illness, injury, or death. For productions where specific talent is contractually irreplaceable, the cost of a production shutdown or delay can be very significant. Cast insurance is rated on the key individuals' health and medical history.
Equipment Cover on Production
Production equipment - cinema cameras, lenses, lighting rigs, sound equipment, drones, monitors - is high value and subject to intensive use. Equipment insurance within a production policy covers owned and hired-in equipment against accidental damage, theft, and loss during the production period. Hired equipment is a particularly important cover given that production companies rent equipment rather than own it for many productions.
Location and Third-Party Liability
Productions filming on location need public liability insurance as a condition of most location agreements with councils, landowners, and heritage sites. The production liability section covers third-party injury and property damage during filming. Location agreements typically specify minimum cover limits - commonly £5m to £10m for exterior filming in public areas.
Disclaimer
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial or insurance advice. Kaeltripton.com is not regulated by the FCA. Always read policy documents in full before purchasing cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do short film productions need production insurance?
Short films, student productions, and low-budget independents may be able to operate without a full production package, but should hold at minimum public liability insurance for any location filming. If the short film will be submitted to festivals or sold to distributors, E&O insurance will be required at that point. Many film funds and production grants also require evidence of production insurance as a condition of funding.
How is production insurance priced?
Production insurance premiums are typically calculated as a percentage of the total production budget. The percentage varies based on the type of production, geographic locations, use of stunts or special effects, schedule length, and the specific covers included in the package. Specialist media insurance brokers can provide quotes based on the production's specific risk profile.
