Matt Brittin, a former Google Executive, is widely anticipated to be appointed as the Director General of the BBC. He is expected to succeed Tim Davie and will have to succeed where he did not, in securing the long-term future of the broadcaster. As it happens, the government is now indicating that it is minded to make the BBC Charter permanent.

The Cambridge graduate, now 57, who rowed three times in the Boat Race, and for Britain in the Olympics, gained an MBA from the London Business School and joined McKinsey as a consultant. He joined Google as director of sales for the United Kingdom in 2007 and became the managing director for Google UK in 2009. He became president of EMEA Business and Operations at Google in 2014, where he remained until the start of 2025. He was awarded a CBE in January 2026 for services to technology and the enhancement of digital skills.

Although that might seem like a safe appointment, many may be wondering why the BBC seems unable to recruit a woman to the top job, or someone who is not a graduate of Oxford or Cambridge.

The director general is appointed by the BBC Board. The vacancy arose following the resignation of Tim Davie and the chief executive of BBC News after a misleading edit in a Panorama programme that has led to a multimillion lawsuit from the President of the United States, which is still unresolved.

With no previous experience in programme making, like his predecessor, the new director general will need to appoint a strong deputy and a director of news. It represents an opportunity for the corporation to reset its relationship with the government and the public.

Matt Brittin will join the BBC at a critical juncture, as the corporation negotiates with the government on the renewal of its Royal Charter and future funding.

Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, has already indicated support for a permanent charter, rather than relying on a review every ten years.

Speaking at the Society of Editors conference in London, she said: “While the terms, the structures and the funding for the BBC will continue to be negotiated every several years, we should seek to end the bizarre situation where if the charter isn’t agreed in time, the BBC ceases to exist.”

“We will act to future-proof this vital institution in these stormy times when public debate feels more toxic and polarised than ever and too often the BBC becomes a lightning rod for the ongoing, exhausting culture wars.”

The former Google executive, who repeatedly defended its tax arrangements, will now have to argue for fair funding arrangements for the BBC.

The BBC recently announced what it called a landmark deal with YouTube, owned by Google, which will see the corporation make programmes for the online video platform.

www.bbc.co.uk

The Deutsche TV-Plattform group has published an implementation profile for the roll out of DVB-I for the German market. It is intended to specify the requirements for televisions so that they can ensure compatibility with the proposed platform in Germany. The DVB-I specification supports service discovery and programme metadata for online and hybrid television and video services.

DVB-I is an open specification developed by the DVB Project and is intended to complement existing DVB standards for the delivery of television and other audiovisual media services.

A pilot project to implement the DVB-I specification was begun in Germany in 2022. The aim is to launch a public service later in 2026.

A DVB-I Task Force, led by Frank Heineberg of RTL and Remo Vogel of rbb, in cooperation with the DVB-I Roundtable, has developed the implementation profile for the market launch of DVB-I in Germany.

Opening the DVB World conference in Amsterdam, Remo, who is the chair of the DVB Project, talked of “a managed transition from classic broadcast to IP-centric media distribution, retaining an open ecosystem for devices and services”. He described it as the digital “glue for a hybrid world” connecting broadcast and broadband while avoiding market fragmentation and safeguarding universal access.

The DVB-I Implementation Profile for DVB-I Receivers in Germany covers the specific elements of the DVB-I specification that need to be supported to meet the requirements of the German market, as determined by the Deutsche TV-Plattform.

The German profile, which is available from the Deutsche TV-Plattform web site, is intended as an appendix to the German DVB-I Book published by the German DVB-I Round Table. There is a separate document containing test cases that describe specific scenarios with the expected outcomes.

www.tv-plattform.de
www.dvbworld.com
slrdb.org

YouTube will become the preferred platform for the football World Cup under a “game-changing” agreement with the global governing body FIFA. In collaboration with the official media partners and creators, the partnership with YouTube will provide audiences with more ways to enjoy the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said: “FIFA is delighted to welcome YouTube as a preferred platform for the FIFA World Cup 2026. By spotlighting FIFA’s premium content and unlocking new opportunities for media partners and creators, this agreement will engage global fans in ways never seen before.”

“As the world’s attention turns to the action in Canada, Mexico and the United States, this collaboration with YouTube reinforces our ambition to maximise the tournament’s impact across the ever-evolving media landscape, offering fans everywhere easy access to an immersive view of the biggest single-sport event in history.”

The agreement offers media partners a powerful platform on their respective YouTube channels where fans will be able to experience the tournament. This includes the opportunity to publish extended highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, shorts and video-on-demand material on YouTube to extend their overall reach and engagement.

Media partners will be able to show extended highlights, show the first 10 minutes of every match and a number of full matches live on their YouTube channel.

They will have access to a library of match footage across formats. This includes the opportunity to publish extended highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, shorts and video-on-demand material on YouTube to extend their overall reach and engagement.

For the first time in the history of the competition, media partners will have the option of live streaming the first 10 minutes of every match on their YouTube channel.

Media partners will be able to stream a select number of matches in full on their YouTube channel, engaging global audiences and promoting where to watch more of the competition.

Justin Connolly, who is responsible for media and sports at YouTube, said: “YouTube is focused on delivering a global, fan-centric, interactive approach to sports entertainment, and we are proud to be a preferred platform for the FIFA World Cup 2026. By providing official media partners and creators with premium content and unparalleled access, we’re delivering a comprehensive experience for fans and partners alike.”

“Whether you’re a hardcore or a casual fan, this partnership will help usher in the next generation of fans while showcasing that no other platform unites the world around major moments like YouTube.”

It is further evidence of the emergence of YouTube, which is owned by Google, as a competitor as much as a complement to traditional television coverage.

www.fifa.com
www.youtube.com