Matt Brittin is beginning to set out how his leadership of the BBC may differ from that of his predecessors. The first major interview with director general was promoted on BBC outlets but significantly was also posted in full on YouTube. The former Google executive says he wants to remain true to the public service mission of the BBC while being “really radical” about how it is delivered. That could mean fewer conventional channels and services, more investment in iPlayer and other digital platforms, and a more data-informed approach to understanding what the BBC produces and how well it serves its audiences.
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More than half of the top 100 creators on YouTube are now watched more on television screens than on any other type of device. YouTube is responding by giving creators what it calls the “prime time treatment”, introducing seasons and episodes for short-form series and adapting more of its service for television viewing. It is another indication that the world’s largest online video platform is increasingly becoming part of television itself.
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European broadcasters are resisting moves to reopen the debate on radio frequencies used for television, even as some countries prepare for a future without digital terrestrial television. The European Broadcasting Union argues that it is premature to revisit the international settlement on the spectrum used for television. Behind the technical arguments is a more fundamental question: should international spectrum policy determine when countries give up terrestrial transmission?
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Channel 4 and Paramount have agreed to bring advertising sales for Channel 4 and 5 under the same sales house roof for the first time. From 2027, Channel 4 Sales will represent 5 and a substantial portfolio of Paramount television brands in the United Kingdom, in a long-term agreement intended to offer advertisers greater scale. It is a significant commercial deal in its own right, but its timing raises some interesting questions about the future shape of Channel 4, Channel 5 and the wider British television market.
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JustWatch, the popular guide to what is available on online video services, is planning to launch its own streaming offering, JustWatch TV. David Croyé, the founder and chief executive of Just Watch, says it is a move he has been considering since the inception of the company 12 years ago.
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Disney+ is introducing a new Playlists feature that brings together themed collections of episodes and movies into a continuous viewing experience with full playback controls. It is designed to solve the perennial problem of choosing what to watch. Disney says it will make it easier to discover programming and keep watching.
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