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BBC, ITV in streaming service talks

The BBC is reportedly holding early-stage discussions with rival UK broadcaster ITV about launching a Netflix-style subscription VoD service.

BBC chief Tony Hall

BBC chief Tony Hall

The talks are also understood to involve Downton Abbey producer NBCUniversal, according to the Guardian, which said the companies are exploring and evaluating a service that would focus on archive TV programming.

However, the paper also reports that the service will also look at commissioning original content.

The two broadcasters’ existing catch-up VoD service, the BBC iPlayer and the ITV Hub offer shows free-to-view for a period of 30 days after broadcast, after which shows end up on third-party paid-for platforms and in some cases on the recently launched BBC Store.

The mooted joint venture would fit in with BBC director general Tony Hall’s plans to reshape the UK pubcaster for the digital age during the next charter renewal period.

ITV CEO Adam Crozier

ITV CEO Adam Crozier

It would also be another way of monetising BBC content as the broadcaster attempts to make £800m (US$1.1bn) in annual savings.

The BBC and ITV are likely taking inspiration from global streaming giants like Amazon and Netflix, which the BBC’s then director of television, Danny Cohen, said in 2014 were a threat to the BBC’s spending power.

Last year, the BBC axed the global version of iPlayer and announced plans to set up a new US SVoD service. C21 recently revealed this is likely to be titled BBC Extra. ITV CEO Adam Crozier has also expressed his intentions to explore new digital content routes for his company.

It is not yet clear if Channel 4 is involved in the talks over the new service. Should it go ahead, it will have to overcome regulation issues. Both the BBC and ITV declined to comment on the speculation.

The reported discussions have echoes of ill-fated BBC, ITV, Channel 4 VoD joint venture Project Kangaroo, which was killed off by regulators in 2009.

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