Your evening streaming routine might soon change. The BBC and Channel 4 are in early talks to combine their content, aiming to create a strong British alternative to Netflix.
If this plan works, it could change the way millions of people in the UK watch TV.
This news came out this week when the BBC’s new Director-General, Matt Brittin, spoke at a parliamentary culture committee hearing. Brittin said that Channel 4 reached out to the BBC to talk about a big streaming partnership.
The idea is to let Channel 4’s reality shows, comedies, and dramas be available right inside the BBC iPlayer app.
What does the British alternative to Netflix mean to viewers?
This could mean you will not have to switch between different apps to find something to watch. Instead of using one app for Doctor Who and another for The Great British Bake Off, all the top public shows would be in one place online.
Importantly, Channel 4’s shows would still be free and supported by ads, even when you watch them on iPlayer.
There is more pressure to create this joint platform now because of big mergers happening in the UK media world.
Why this move is necessary
A few days ago, Sky agreed to buy ITV and its ITVX streaming app for £1.6 billion. Brittin warned that if British broadcasters do not work together, they could be pushed out by big American companies like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube.
“This is a moment of real jeopardy,” Brittin told lawmakers, saying that smaller networks just are not big enough to survive on their own.
But there is a big downside for viewers. At the same hearing, the BBC chief said the current UK TV licence fee is “a busted flush” and “no longer fit for purpose.”
Since fewer people are watching live TV, the BBC is now asking the government for a new “streamer levy.” If this law passes, households might have to pay the £169 yearly fee even if they only watch services like Netflix, TikTok, or YouTube.
Why a British alternative to Netflix is not new
Long-time TV viewers might be skeptical about this news. This is actually the third time in twenty years that British broadcasters have tried to make this plan work.
Similar projects, like “Project Kangaroo” in 2007 and another try in 2017, both failed because of company disagreements and tough competition rules.
The broadcasters admit there are still many commercial, technical, and legal problems to solve before a joint app can launch. But since people are leaving traditional TV quickly, leaders from both networks say they will work on the platform as fast as they can.
For now, your streaming apps will not change, but the fight for your TV screen has started.