Actors call for more credit on TV

The union said TV credits were often "inadequate"

Actors' union Equity is to tackle TV networks for "rushing" end-of-programme credits which list performers' names.

Equity says there are increasing instances of actors' names being run through too quickly or even dropped entirely and put on programme websites.

The union has canvassed its members' opinions and said it would put their views "forcefully" to broadcasters.

The BBC has said that "channel surfing" increases by up to 400% when credits are shown as viewers lose interest.

Credits are part of an actor's equipment for getting work Equity member Frank Dunne

Equity Council member Jean Rogers had a flood of responses condemning TV networks when she wrote in the union magazine about "inadequate" credits.

Your views

Actors complained that rushing through credits was insulting and sent out the message that artists were "inconsequential".

Equity member Ben Livingstone said: "Credits should be scrolled legibly, slowly, without split screens or any other kind of information at all being transmitted.

Equity hailed The Vicar of Dibley's "creative" credits

"Not only does it undermine the artists' sense of creative worth, it detracts from the viewed programme and devalues it."

Fellow member Frank Dunne added: "Credits are part of an actor's equipment for getting work, just as the owner of a shop knows it is important to have his name over the door."

An Equity spokesman told BBC News Online the issue was with TV policy-makers "undervaluing" artists - rather than with programme producers who did attach credits.

He cited BBC sitcom The Vicar of Dibley as an example of how credits could be used "creatively". A final joke always follows the credits, and most viewers stay in order to watch it.

In its written guidelines on commissioning, the BBC says credits are important to programme-makers, "but with few exceptions they are of limited interest to our audience".

"The BBC's credit policy balances our willingness to reflect significant creative contributions with a recognition that too many credits make viewers switch over or switch off," it says.

An ITV spokeswoman said there was no industry standard for size or speed of end-of-programme credits.

"However, where it is within our control, ITV ensures that its end credits, including those that are split screen, are clear and legible," she said.

---

Back to top

Do you watch credits on TV? Are you interested in a list of actors' names or technicians' credits? Or do you skip on to other channels?

This debate is now closed but please see below for a selection of your comments.

A long list of slowly-scrolling credits causes me to instantly switch channels. Credits.... who cares.
Scott, Dallas, Texas, USA

As a viewer I have no interest in the names of the people who made the programme, only if I enjoyed it or not. If there is the option to view the credits on the programmes websites and anyone in the industry (whom I assume are the only people who would be interested) can find out what they want, then there is no real need to make sure the credits are played slowly.
Liz, Cardiff

Firstly, most actors do not earn that much, and at any one time up to 90% of the profession are unemployed. A few at the top end of the profession are very comfortable indeed, but over 80% earn less than the average national wage - most earn substantially less. Getting paid a couple of grand for one episode of a TV show may sound cushy, but if it's the only paid work you get for months, it's a pittance. Having their names appear on credits at the end of a TV show or movie is one of the few effective ways that many actors have to advertise their services.

As for people who find credits boring, why can't they get off their backsides, make a cup of tea, or find something to do for three or four minutes? Haven't they got more important things to do than complain about the minor inconvenience of having to sit through a couple of minutes' screen time which might help some low-paid workers get jobs?
Phil, London, UK

The original Crossroads idea of capping off a tense scene with a revelation or shock at the end of each episode after the credits was always a good policy.

And anyway, I find I surf channels most during ad breaks, which on Sky at least seem to be interminable. It's rare these days I finish watching a Sky show.
Colin Smith, UK

Credits are of limited interest - actors - fine (though I only look if there is someone I don't recognise - a sort of 'wonder who that was'), locations - would be useful, music - fine. Production & technical staff - these people are not visible and do not mean much to the viewer. There is little to be gained by showing them and a long list of credits is a big turn off.
Steve, Chelmsford, UK.

I can think of other ways I'd rather spend my time then viewing programme credits. Why not make the credits part of the interactive content for the programme, so if anybody is interested they can press their red button.
AC, Glasgow, Scotland

Doesn't this show a lack of confidence on behalf of the schedulers? Are they so frightened that their next offering won't get watched that they try to stampede us into watching their next offering. People should have a chance to draw breath, perhaps reflect on the last programme, find out who the actress was, talk, make the tea or surf the chanels. If the next programme is worth watching or interesting, I will watch it- if not I will go elsewhere.
Bob, Hertford England

I hate this split-screening or rushing of credits, particularly at the end of films. If nothing else the credits give the viewer a moment to reflect on the events of the past hour or so. Personally I'm not interested in what is on next or even next week - I would prefer to watch all of the programme that is on now!
Jonathan Gray, Chesterfield, UK

It strikes me a very self-indulgent of the behalf of the 'luvvies'.. Who watches credits..waste of my time and the channel's time..who really cares who 3rd grips mate is or man with dog in background? Companies don't list their staff under their corporate logo, do they..
Trevor, UK

If you ever want to see the credits for a children's programme you have no chance - they are shrunk so small it's completely impossible to read them - and that's if they are shown at all.

Why is the BBC, a public service broadcaster, complaining about channel switching? Particularly when it's very happily publicising its "eight free-to-air BBC channels" (engrained into our heads by its excessive advertising)?

These are habits I'd be very happy to see rid of and I'm glad it is being raised.
Tom H, UK

It's not only the actors, but the TV and film composers whose music is devalued by being faded and talked over. Theme tunes are part of the programme. How can they be heard properly when the announcer begs us not to switch over because somthing "exciting" is coming up next?
David Prolazini, UK

On the rare occasion I want to know who a particular actor was on a television show I'll usually check on the internet. The internet movie database has listings for almost all US and most UK shows. (www.imdb.com) .

I truly find it hard to believe that any television professionals are getting work on the basis of a director or producer spotting their name on the credits of a show they liked.
Tariq Nakano, UK

Throw your TV away, then you won't care either way. Watching TV is just a waste of time. Try talking to people or go out for a walk and get some exercise or just pop along to the pub and be sociable.
Jason, Harrow, UK

I don't mind the credits at all - it's just pointless squashing them up so they can't be read, either have them legible and without gormless continuity announcements over the top, or don't have them at all.

TV companies are so paranoid about people switching over that they've resorted to trails within the programme itself (see ITV and BBC Three). They should concentrate on what they are broadcasting, not what is coming up next.

I'd much rather see the back of the endless promos for BBC programmes, they're far more annoying - do they think people don't channel surf during these as much as the credits?
Steve Green, Kingston, Surrey

Give due credit to artists, and get the BBC in particular to cease the endless trails of its forthcoming programmes. They are becoming far worse than the adverts on the commercial channels.
Alan, Cheshire

I think that we should be using the digital technology constantly being forced on us to solve this. Programme makers could use the interactive services available on Digital TV now to show this kind of information, ("Simply press the red button."as they say!) indeed for those interested it could contain more information and even links to other work by these people? For those without Digital TV what about putting similar information on Ceefax? Then the rest of us who are not interested can get on with watching our programmes and programme makers won't have to worry about people channel hopping.
Darren, Edinburgh

Why do people have so little patience these days? Slow down! I always stay to watch the credits when I go to see a film. I feel that given all of the people that it has taken to make this entertainment for me the least I can do is sit for another five minutes and read their names. Besides, it gives time for the traffic jam in the car park to clear! Why should television be any different? Inventive credits such as the Airplane! movies or the Vicar of Dibley add to the experience. More of the same please!
Howard, Lancs, UK

Actors have agents, CVs and even web sites to market themselves (perhaps just as many of us do). What with the preponderance of award ceremonies and the media's obsession with celebrity don't these insecure luvvies get enough publicity? With digital TV becoming the norm, stick the credits as a 'red button option' for those that can be bothered!
Paul Robinson, London

All creative artists attach their names to their works; on the cover of a book or the corner of a painting (and if you're a good enough chef, on the menu). That's what credits do for a film. They are there as a service to you, the viewer.
Dante Rossetti, Maryland, USA

They should copy SoccerAm on Sky. Everybody who watches it reads the credits as they have jokes and daft names etc mixed in.
Robert Gordon, Carlisle

In no other sphere would a company be asked to change a business driven policy according to the whims of contract employees. Why is this different? Do we have a shortage of actors?
Ben , Bracknell, UK

I'm sorry bit I refuse to sit there and watch what is essentially a list roll by, especially when I don't know anyone involved or what most of these people do (Third key grip's make-up assistant to second unit director etc...). For the people who get frustrated that they can't find the name of an actor they think they might possibly have maybe vaguely recognised from an episode of The Bill, surely your lives won't come to a standstill until you find out who played 'Man in Reliant Robin with green hat'?
Matt, Liverpool

I'm not too bothered with credits on TV programmes, but it is sometimes frustrating when movie credits are sped up or, on some channels, compressed to one side of the screen to accommodate information about the next programme to be shown.
Dan, London, UK

On the one hand, seeing endless credits of who the extras, technicians and teaboys were doesn't do an awful lot for me, but when I do actually want to find out who a particluar actor was, it irritates me no end to have the credits squashed up over one side of the screen, unreadable and flying past at a rapid rate so that the TV company can run a trailer on the other side of the screen (and why do we now have trailers for the programme that's going to start in 30 seconds?).

Please, one thing or the other - either show the full credits so that we can actually read them (or make a cup of tea) or none at all and on to the next programme.
Steve, Woking, England

I get no credit for the goods I make at work, I just get paid. TV actors generally get paid much more than me, so why do they need their ego's massaging as well?
Liam Bowden, Braintree, Essex, England

Very rarely do I bother viewing the credits at the end of the film - it generally gets way too boring. The only time I do is if I want to find out who wrote the music or the computer generated effects.
Nicholas Kingsley, Chichester, West Sussex

Full credits should be available for those who wish to view them. Those who don't can switch over, or switch off (yes, there is an off button). However, the situation is even worse for films, especially at peak time, where credits are severely abbreviated.
Matt, Birmingham, UK

A long list of credits is just dead space. With 99 other channels to choose from it¿s a fine time to see what else is on. As the BBC doesn¿t show adverts this is the obvious time to surf the other stations.
Aaron, Leatherhead, Surrey

List actors names over the action, slowly at the start. No-one switches over while ER is starting up, do they ? As usual, Americans know how to advertise.
K, London

As a sometime writer and editor I understand people wanting to have their contribution recognised. I find the ITV practice of a split screen quite annoying. It's not just actors (who we can at least see) who suffer but also the technicians and behind the camera staff. I think the credits ought to be played in full and at a sensible speed.
Martin Hoscik, London, UK

Agreed, the number of times I have watched a programme and wanted to know the name of an actor only to see the credits flash by, or worse reduced to a small window in the corner are numerous. These people work hard for their living and deserve the recognition that the public afford them.
Paul Williams, London

I always read the credits and am constantly frustrated when they go by too fast or are masked by advertisements for a future programme. I like to be able to identify by name an actor whom I have seen in another production.
Alison Gomm, Oxford

When I go to a restaurant, I don't want a list of who chopped the vegetables, who put them in the pan, who took them out and who put them on the plate. Similarly, I don't really care who did what on a programme or film. I'm quite happy for the list of actors to be there at the end, but I don't want programme time taken up by a slow run through.
Mark, Dundee, Scotland

I only ever really scan the credits if there is an actor that I recognise but cant place their name. The rest of the time, that time is used to refil the glass!!
Pete Burton, Chester-le-Street

Absolutely! I only watch programmes that I'm interested in, and if that means I'm also interested to see who was involved. Also, if you see a face you recognise, and can't remember the name, How frustrating not to be able to see the credits at the end!
Emily Carding-Allen, Berkshire, UK

My biggest pet hate is after a programme or a film, more often than not, the credits are squashed to a small part of the screen and the announcer starts babbling on about a book/video/next weeks episode or what-ever. Please stop it! Let the film or program finish properly before the Ads. Believe it or not some people actually want to find out who was 'the third copper to the left of the lead actor' who got shot two minutes into the film/drama.
Barry Lowry, London UK

I am very often disappointed when credits role by so quickly and more often than not so small that they cannot be read unless you sit about a foot from the screen. Not only do I look for names but also the music credits and very often the location where the film was made. It is so frustrating when it shoots by too fast.
Linda Hodges, Leigh on Sea, England

The only time I look at the credits is if I can't put a name to someone that was in the programme. Other than that, I never look at them.
Michal Kus, Weston-super-Mare

I would like the credits to roll more slowly - I often want to see who played a certain part and aften miss the name at the moment. And even watching the credits is better than all those awful trailers on BBC!
Judith, Farnborough, UK

I am very upset at the modern trend of compressing the credits to one side of the screen, making them illegible, so that a promotion of another programme can be placed beside it. If the credits are going to be shown, and I think they should be since I often want to find out who played whom, then there is no point making them illegible!
Howard Winter, St.Albans, England

If someone is actually interested in employing a certain actor they should take the two minutes it would take to go to the relevent programme/film website and find out their name. Why should the other 99.9% of the viewing population be subjected to three minutes of self indulgent utter boredom... Who cares!
Sean, Belfast

I find the increasing ue of split screens for trailing upcoming programmes during the titles for the current programme a real irritation. I agree that it detracts from and devalues the work of the actors and technicians that have worked to put a show together and fully support Equity's stance. Personally, I find trailers, ads, and the BBC's interminable promos for Freeview and BBCi to be far more of a turnoff than end-of-show credits.
Tim Jones, North Devon, UK

I work for a software company. When someone closes one of our software applications it doesn't list off details of the people who designed the product. Why should actors etc be indulged in this way?
Sean, Belfast

I always watch the credits right through to the end, both on TV and at the cinema. I feel that one owes it to the people who created the art you have enjoyed.
Alasdair Maclean, Sutton, England

The BBC is correct, the credits are of minimal interest to most audiences. I regularly surf between channels during credits, trailers and commercials. The actors should realise this, and stop complaining. As a viewer, I will probably recognise the main players in a programme, I really don't care who played who played "woman in background" and even less about who the cameraman was, or who made the producer's tea.
Mike, UK