The BBC has reportedly held talks with rival UK broadcaster ITV about the possibility of launching a joint SVoD service.
The joint venture, which would be built to rival Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video, could also include NBCUniversal.
BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub currently offer free-to-view content for 30 days after it is originally broadcast.
The discussions follow plans from the BBC to close the iPlayer ‘loophole’ whereby viewers can watch catch-up content without the need for a TV license. The move would offer another way of monetising BBC content as the broadcaster looks to make annual savings of £800 million – up from an initially stated £650 million.
The BBC also recently launched BBC Store, a download-to-own service that allows consumers to buy its shows.
Netflix currently buys content from BBC Worldwide, ITV Studios and NBC, and it remains to be seen how the joint venture would affect Netflix’s content library.
