Media Insurance for Autumn 2025: Events, Campaigns, and Risks

In our recent insight into the UK media industry, we explored the challenges of 2025, from squeezed domestic production budgets to digital shifts and global competition. As more time has passed, media professionals continue to face uncertainty. However, there is one area that is recovering and experiencing significant growth.

 

1. Event Insurance

The UK is one of the world's leading hubs for live events. From trade shows and exhibitions to political conferences, brand launches, concerts and music festivals, there is a constant demand for media services (www.cvent.com). These occasions bring together a wide range of professionals:

• Camera crews and AV suppliers

• Lighting companies

• Drone operators and drone light shows

• Dance crews and choreographers

• Event hosts and presenters

• Celebrity speakers and entertainers

• Event planners and service crews

 

Each plays an important part, but each faces exposure if something goes wrong. Equipment can be damaged in transit, shows can be postponed, or liability claims can arise if a guest is injured.

 

Event Insurance can include:

• Cancellation or postponement cover

• Property and equipment protection

• Public and employers' liability

• Theft of cash or valuables

• Crisis containment and PR costs

 

2. Professional Indemnity Insurance

Media professionals take on significant responsibilities in their work, from producing campaigns to editing films or advising clients. In the context of events and advertising campaigns, PI cover is particularly relevant: a missed deadline, a mistake in creative content, or an error in handling client data can all lead to disputes. With that responsibility comes the risk of being held liable if a mistake is made. PI cover is often overlooked, but it provides vital protection when disputes arise.

 

PI insurance can cover claims arising from:

• Negligence or errors: Mistakes in advice, services, or designs that cost a client money

• Breach of duty: Failing to deliver work to the expected professional standard

• Breach of confidentiality: Sharing client information by accident

• Copyright infringement: Unintentionally using protected material without permission

• Defamation and libel: Statements that harm a client’s reputation

• Loss or damage to documents: Losing or damaging important client files or data

 

PI insurance will pay for:

• Legal defence costs if you need to fight a claim

• Compensation payments if you are found liable

• Reputation protection to help safeguard your business and financial stability

 

3. Production and Event Insurance

If you are running a full media production, whether that is a commercial, music video, drama series, or corporate event film, Ratcliffes can arrange a Combined Production Policy that covers every stage of the job. These policies are designed to protect both individuals and companies from the financial impact of unexpected disruption.

 

This can include:

• Loss or damage to own and hired-in equipment (accidental damage, theft, transit)

• Cover for raw footage (film negatives, digital, or videotape) including reshoot costs

• Producers indemnity: interruption, postponement, cancellation, or abandonment

• Public and products liability, up to £5m

• Employers' liability, up to £10m

• Legal defence costs under health and safety law

• Professional indemnity cover and money cover as standard

 

Event Insurance can also extend to interruption, postponement, cancellation, or abandonment for organisers and suppliers.

 

4. Cyber Insurance

Cyber risk is one of the fastest-growing threats in the media industry. Autumn is no different to any other season when it comes to digital work, but the volume of uploading, streaming, editing, and distributing content continues to grow, and so does the money at stake.

The media sector is considered high risk for cyberattacks. Ratcliffes can provide comprehensive policies for larger organisations, usually starting around £1,000-£2,500, as well as affordable stand‑alone cover for small businesses and freelancers, with premiums starting from around £100. All cover is backed by Aviva, one of the UK's most established insurers.

 

What is a cyber event that could put your business at risk?
A cyber event could be ransomware, data theft, corruption of files, network downtime, misdirected emails, or system failure.

 

Cyber insurance can include:

• First-party costs: incident response, system restoration, data recovery, business interruption, reputation management, extortion payments

• Third-party costs: liability for data breaches, regulatory investigations, notification costs

• Pre-incident support: risk management, incident planning, and staff training

 

With these options, even one-person businesses can access protection once only available to large firms.

 

5. Why Review Cover Now

In the past, many freelancers could rely on production companies to cover their kit and liability. Since the pandemic, this has become much less reliable, leaving professionals exposed if things go wrong. That is why it is vital to have your own protection in place.

Ratcliffes' Combined Media policy is built around what media professionals actually need, unlike some restrictive policies offered elsewhere. This means we can usually offer both broader cover and competitive pricing. Getting a quote is free and without obligation, so there is nothing to lose and potentially a lot of peace of mind to gain.

 

Need to Review Your Cover?

Speak to our dedicated media insurance advisor, Henry, on 07714 679946 or contact us via our online quote form.

 

Explore our Media Insurance options and protect your next production with confidence.