The chief executive of Channel 4 has confirmed the broadcaster is in talks with the BBC and ITV over a possible entrance on the UK version of BritBox.
“Of course we are having positive and constructive discussions with ITV and the BBC about how Channel 4 could partner with them to build the scale of Brit Box,” Alex Mahon told the Media & Telecoms 2019 & Beyond conference in London. “Internationally we are pooling our reach with ProSieben, TF1 and Mediaset in the European Broadcasting Exchange to sell across borders.”
Mahon said Channel 4 already had the youngest audience of any Public Service Broadcaster as demonstrated by the Great British Bake-off – a show that two years ago was part of the BBC schedule.
“A single episode of Bake Off on Channel 4 alone, delivers more young commercial impacts than YouTube can, in the UK, in an entire day.” She added The Circle, which launched last year, was the youngest profiling show since 2012.
At the same time, Mahon renewed the call for the PSBs, which also include the BBC, ITV and Channel 5, to be given prominence on smart TVs.