LONDON – Media regulator Ofcom is urging YouTube to boost the visibility of content from the U.K.’s public service broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4, to combat a significant threat to their future.
Children are spending considerably more time on YouTube than on all public service broadcasters combined. Ofcom warns that the future of public service media is in jeopardy if younger viewers aren’t drawn to these traditional channels.
The watchdog suggests that broadcasters should collaborate with YouTube to ensure their content is easily discoverable. Ofcom also believes there’s a strong argument for the government to consider legislation mandating this. Public service broadcasters, it adds, must also step up their efforts to create engaging content appealing to audiences on these platforms.
The BBC, ITV, STV, Channel 4, S4C, and Channel 5 are all classified as public service broadcasters (PSBs).
Ofcom’s review on the future of public service broadcasting highlights a critical concern: “If children do not turn to PSB content as they get older, the future of PSM (public service media) is at risk.”
Ofcom specifically recommends that YouTube prioritize news and children’s programming from these traditional U.K. television channels for its users.
The regulator found that only about 20% of the material viewed on YouTube within the U.K. is actually produced in the U.K.
Key takeaway: A substantial shift in viewing habits threatens the core of U.K. public service broadcasting.
Public service media in the U.K. has a rich history, delivering impartial news and programming that reflects British culture and fosters national unity. However, Ofcom notes that the system faces a “serious threat” due to expanding audience choices, significant financial pressures on broadcasters, and shifts in the advertising market.
In this challenging landscape, public service broadcasters are finding it increasingly difficult to fund the creation and distribution of high-quality U.K. content for all audiences.
Ofcom has outlined a six-point plan. This includes proposing that the government explore additional funding for specific genres like news, local news, and children’s content.
Sarah Rose, president of Channel 5, expressed satisfaction with Ofcom’s findings. She stated, “We are pleased that Ofcom’s review highlighted the challenges producing specialist children’s content and called for commercially viable funding models among its recommendations.”
Additionally, Ofcom announced a review of its broadcast TV and radio regulations, recognizing that much of the current framework was designed for a pre-digital era of traditional television viewing.
Ofcom also called for urgent clarity regarding the future of digital terrestrial television, which relies on masts and aerials and currently supports Freeview. The regulator wants to know if this technology will be phased out after 2034.
A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) commented, “We welcome Ofcom’s Public Service Media Review and we will now consider its recommendations.”
YouTube has been contacted for comment.
Jonathan Allan, interim chief executive of Channel 4, stated, “Channel 4 wholeheartedly supports Ofcom’s recognition that bold, forward-looking interventions are urgently required.”
An ITV spokesperson added, “Most immediately, we share Ofcom’s concern to ensure that the future of TV distribution is decided rapidly as audiences consume TV content more and more online.”
