The BBC is proposing sharing its iPlayer technology with its UK TV rivals. The plan forms part of a wider set of public service proposals, which the BBC says could benefit public service broadcasters by more than GBP120m per year by 2014.
The BBC says its iPlayer platform could become part of a "federation of on-demand PSB [public service broadcast] services." Under the plan, users could access content from broadcasters such as ITV and Channel 4 using separate sections of a single website. The BBC claims this would allow competition and independence while "maximising the benefits of shared technology and user experience."
The BBC says the move is compatible with PSB partnerships such as its proposed VoD platform, Kangaroo. However, the proposal comes just one week after the joint venture between ITV, BBC and Channel 4 was branded anti-competitive by the Competition Commission as part of its ongoing investigation into the service.
Kangaroo was designed as a one stop shop for recently aired VoD in the UK, as well as a hub for archived content. The Competition Commission is due to give a final verdict on the platform in Feburary and the BBC claims it will continue to make a case for the service. However, the CEO of the project, Ashley Highfield, stepped down in November to join Microsoft after just five months in charge.
Among its other public service proposals, the BBC says it will work to bring VoD to TV sets by developing an open standard for internet-connect TV. ITV and BT have already come out in favour of the scheme, which is designed to offer integrated broadband and broadcast services.
The BBC also says it could share its regional news footage with other broadcasters and offer content to newspapers as part of a non-exclusive pilot scheme. It also proposes sharing digital production technology and sharing research, training and audience research with the wider industry.
The proposals are in response to Ofcom's ongoing review into public service broadcasting and a BBC Trust request in June. This is investigating financing and public service duties among the major UK broadcasters after the digital switchover in 2012.
The BBC also says "discussions are underway to explore a series of commercial areas of cooperation between BBC Worldwide and Channel 4". The BBC has previously resisted calls for it to give Channel 4 a cut of its venture arm or a cut of its licence fee money.
