Coming to a screen near you, the British answer to Netflix
THE BBC is to push ahead with plans to launch a British rival to Netflix, after receiving permission from the Government to develop a subscription streaming service.
The project, which is believed to have the working title Britflix, is understood to be a collaboration between the corporation and ITV, its main commercial rival, and is still in the early stages of development.
A White Paper on the future of the BBC, unveiled last week, called on the corporation to develop “some form of additional subscription services” over the coming years, which ministers suggested could pave the way to the corporation adopting a mixed model of both licence fee funding and additional, paid-for services.
The paragraphs were widely interpreted as an assault on the corporation’s traditional funding model, with some suggesting it marked the “beginning of the end” for the licence fee.
However, both John Whittingdale, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and senior BBC sources, said the corporation had requested new powers to levy subscriptions.
It is understood that the broadcaster is working on a new online service, delivered via iPlayer, which would serve as a British rival to Netflix and Amazon, the American web giants.
A source with knowledge of the project said that ITV was also involved, along with a number of production companies, including NBC Universal, the parent company of Carnival Films, the maker of Downton Abbey.
The putative service would carry British broadcasters’ archive content, as well as commission its own, original series, much like Netflix, which has developed hit shows such as Narcos and Making a Murderer. Mr Whittingdale told The Daily Tele
graph that he was supportive of the corporation’s plans. He said: “There may come a moment in the future where all television is delivered online, and it becomes a more realistic possibility if you wanted to move towards an element of voluntary subscription.”
The BBC has been quick to reassure viewers that any new service would not involve any of the corporation’s existing shows disappearing behind a paywall. A similar collaboration between British broadcasters, known as Project Kangaroo, was blocked by competition regulators in 2009, over fears that it would stifle competition.
However, many in the industry now see that decision as shortsighted, as it has allowed American giants to establish a powerful foothold in the online subscription television market.
The White Paper said: “The Government welcomes the BBC’s commitment to develop and test some form of additional subscription services. The Government is clear that this would be for additional services only. Licence fee payers will not be asked to pay for anything they currently get.”