Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

Ofcom expects more collaboration between UK PSBs

Group and board member Steve Unger offered his thoughts in a keynote at the DTG Summit in London

UK Public Service Broadcasters should engage in careful cooperation if they wish to launch a joint streaming service that can rival the dominance of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

This is according to Ofcom group member and board member Steve Unger, speaking in a keynote at the DTG Summit in London.

It follows the news that the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have reportedly held discussions about launching a British streaming service.

He said that there are a number of ways in which they should collaborate, including audience measurement and potentially partnering with global companies, which include Google, Netflix, Amazon and Facebook.

Unger also said he felt that the UK broadcasters needed to be able to recover the fixed costs related to their programme production.

He said that scale is now very important in the broadcasting ecology, and that while video habits are changing, DTT is likely to remain relevant for a decade or more and PSB’s have the opportunity to adapt.

In a Q&A, Matthew Postgate, chief technology and product officer, BBC, confirmed that the BBC remains open to the idea of giving other content providers access to iPlayer. While supporting this idea, Unger also said there should be a choice of platforms.