The director-general of the BBC says today’s TV reality is there is no substitute for the combination of linear and on demand.
Tony Hall told the Deloitte Enders Media and Telecoms Conference that the public broadcaster intended to have shows available on the iPlayer for at least 12 months after their initial transmission and that would include boxed sets.
But while the BBC was prepared to change and adapt to a new global, digital marketplace, regulation should do the same. Ofcom has already launched a probe into the BBC’s proposals to develop the iPlayer.
Lord Hall said audiences were responding to changes the BBC has made so far. Programmes including Luther, Our Girl, Miranda returning to iPlayer are being viewed from their first episode.
But there are also benefits in shows that receive their premier through the on demand platform. 19 million requests for Killing Eve came before its broadcast as did 5 million of the 12 million requests for Peter Kay’s Car Share.
There would also be more personalisation, which said Lord Hall, increases viewing. “Audiences tell us they want a tailored, personalised offer. They want us to deliver a mix of data-driven content and curated programming – a mix that only the BBC can provide.”
More live programme will also feature, something audiences suggest makes the iPlayer distinctive.
“What we’re proposing for iPlayer is in a sense nothing new. It’s the extension of our initial public service window, that’s not normally available for commercial exploitation in the UK. So it won’t affect our ability to maximise commercial returns,” said Lord Hall.
