BBC, Channel 4 and ITV Streaming Service

The BBC, Channel 4 and ITV plan to create UK streaming service; a move to combat Netflix and Amazon.

20:22 06 June 2018

The BBC, Channel 4 and ITV are currently discussing about creating a British streaming service to give Netflix and Amazon some serious competition. It is understood that NBC Universal is also involved in early-stage talks. The focus of the discussions is to figure out ways on how to get main broadcasters and makers of top shows in the UK to band together to offer a new streaming service for the UK population. This marks the third time the companies have set aside decades of rivalry in order to secure a digital future for the British TV.

 

A well-placed source has confirmed the ongoing discussions. “All options are open, they are early conversations and no direction is firm yet,” the source said. “But they know a video-on-demand platform play would be a true defence for the UK creative industries.” 

 

According to latest figures, Netflix currently has 8.2million subscribers in the UK while Amazon Prime Video has 4.3million. The BBC has iPlayer but has admitted that 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK spend more time with Netflix in a week than with all of BBC TV.