BBC ‘has a duty’ to show British children’s TV

THE BBC has a “responsibility” to give children access to British programmes, amid concerns over the dominance of Netflix and Youtube, its head of children’s television has said.

Alice Webb said the BBC could still compete with streaming services, despite their difference in budgets, as she vowed to keep “innovating” to give young people in Britain home-grown television shows. Earlier this year, Lord Hall, the directorgeneral, suggested the culture of Britain’s youth faced being “shaped and defined” by Facebook, Amazon and Netflix, as he announced major investment in children’s television.

The BBC confirmed it would invest £34million in expanding digital programming for children. Ms Webb told The Guardian Britishmade shows were in the “DNA” of the BBC, insisting children should “have a choice of UK content”.