The British public service operator BBC is reportedly planning to launch a subscription video service to compete with Netflix and Amazon. The British government has given the green light after a similar proposal was shot down in 2009, according to The Telegraph.
BBC to launch "Britflix"
The project has been approved by the British government, which was the first major roadblock facing the British public service operator. BBC is now moving on to the development phase.
Brits will continue to have access to “free” public service content, financed by the public service pool, but BBC is hoping to create a premium service that offers more content, including original productions. Commercial British TV network ITV as well as Universal and Carnival Film are reportedly involved in the project.
BBC is planning to use the existing BBC iPlayer platform as a way to deliver video content to various internet-enabled devices, including TVs and phones. The service is being developed under the working title “Britflix”.
The new subscription service will compete with US-based Netflix and Amazon, the report claimed. BBC was hoping to launch a premium streaming service in 2009 but the proposal was shot down by the British government due to BBC’s public service role.
BBC has not confirmed any details, but in a whitepaper on the future of BBC presented last week, the public service provider was urged to develop "some form of additional subscription service".
- Source: The Telegraph
