The BBC is proposing to open up iPlayer so it can carry programmes from other UK public service broadcasters, effectively turning it into a shared, UK-focused streaming destination alongside BBC content.
In its Charter Review submission, A BBC for All, the BBC says this is a way to keep public service content prominent as viewing shifts to streaming, and to create a stronger domestic alternative to global platforms by aggregating PSB content in one place. Commercial broadcasters business models would be supported while the BBC itself would remain advertising free. This would include the BBC Studios backed UKTV channels and content that may have been originated for the BBC itself. “This would make it easier and more convenient for audiences to access UKTV content, with a higher revenue upside, and with brand separation as a way to mitigate the risk of audience confusion.” The BBC says it will explore this idea further with DCMS in the coming months.
Audio service BBC Sounds would also be opened up to third party broadcasters and there are hints of more BBC content being added to YouTube.
The public broadcaster said the review represents an urgent opportunity to secure the future of public service media and strengthen the organisation’s role in the UK’s creative economy and democratic life.
The BBC warned that the current funding model, designed for a different era, cannot sustain its public service mission in the long term and called for a more sustainable and universal funding system under the next Charter period.
Among the proposals is a call for the government to resume full funding of the BBC World Service, which the broadcaster described as a global beacon of media freedom and an important element of the UK’s international influence.
The BBC’s response also sets out plans to strengthen its role as a trusted national institution, support growth across the UK’s creative industries and deliver greater value to audiences.
The corporation said it intends to increase efforts to tackle disinformation and misinformation through trusted news services and new technologies. It also wants to expand partnerships with local news providers, including increasing the number of reporters within the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Other proposals include expanding BBC Bitesize to reach more children and support media literacy, while also exploring ways to reach audiences who increasingly consume content through third-party platforms.
BBC chair Samir Shah said the Charter Review must deliver meaningful reform. “The BBC is a vital national asset – a shared investment in the UK’s culture, communities and democracy,” he said, adding that it supports the country’s creative industries and promotes UK influence internationally.
Director-general Tim Davie said maintaining the status quo was not an option, warning that clear decisions were required to ensure sustainable funding. “The BBC stands ready to innovate and do more for audiences and partners across the UK, but the choice is clear: back the BBC or watch it decline,” he said.
The BBC’s submission focuses on three key areas for reform: strengthening independence, including removing the fixed end-date of the Royal Charter; establishing a future-proof funding model; and allowing the organisation to respond more quickly to technological change and global competition.
The government’s consultation on the future of the BBC Charter closes on 10 March.
