Brit watchdog says public service TV must 'urgently' join Team YouTube
(2025/07/22)
- Reference: 1753177332
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/07/22/ofcom_psb_youtube/
- Source link:
Public service broadcasters (PSBs) need to work with Google-owned YouTube "urgently," says the UK's communications watchdog, Ofcom.
The warning comes in the Public Service Media Review, [1]published [PDF] yesterday, which maintains that in a marketplace with services like Netflix and YouTube – with their "hyper-personalized experiences that are hugely popular with viewers and advertisers" – PSBs are finding it "much harder to fund the production and distribution of high-quality UK content to all audiences."
PSBs in the UK include the BBC – affectionately known by Brits as "Auntie" – as well as ad-supported ITV, STV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and S4C.
[2]
In a previous review, as well as the latest report, Ofcom said the British government needs to make a decision by early 2026 at the latest. Anything after that "risks undermining the investment and innovation needed to put universal TV distribution on a sustainable footing inclusive of all audiences."
[3]
[4]
There is an implicit assumption that cost savings may be realized as audience attention shifts toward ad-supported platforms such as YouTube. "Content over terrestrial masts, as well as multiple digital platforms," the regulator points out, "comes at a significant cost."
The transition to digital has already taken a great deal of investment. The BBC [5]last year [PDF] netted £5.9 billion ($6.15 billion) in revenue from a £174.50 ($235) license fee it collects from most UK households, as well as money from its BBC Studios commercial unit. The PSB is tasked with managing the transition to digital-only online services while continuing to support its audience for traditional broadcast television and radio.
[6]AI summaries turn real news into nonsense, BBC finds
[7]Man who binned 7,500 Bitcoin drive now wants to buy entire landfill to dig it up
[8]Apple shrugs off BBC complaint with promise to 'further clarify' AI content
[9]BBC to staff: Uninstall TikTok from our corporate kit unless you can 'justify' having it
Additionally, it says, emerging tech such as GenAI is revolutionizing how content is created, distributed, and consumed. Ofcom opines: "These seismic shifts are well underway and the next few years will be critical in determining the future of UK broadcasting."
To help put PSBs on a level footing in a YouTube world, the regulator said the government should consider using legislation to back PSB "content" on YouTube. "This is particularly important for news and children's content, and we believe there is a strong case for government to legislate to enable the change," Ofcom said.
[10]
"This would require significant work but would give prominence for PSB content on YouTube statutory backing, just as the Media Act provides PSB players prominence on connected TVs and other devices."
We asked Google for its comment on any potential moves to mandate greater prominence for content from PSBs on its video-sharing platform by law.
Ofcom's report adds: "While the PSBs continue to deliver significant volumes of first-run news and current affairs, new programming for many specialist genres has been declining. This is particularly the case for arts and classical music (hours of which have declined by 55 percent between 2014 and 2024), children's (43 percent), and comedy (39 percent)."
[11]
While the figures don't seem that startling in aggregate, with public service media in the form of PSBs making up a large proportion of people's total in-home video viewing (BBC 19 percent, ITV/STV 10 percent, Channel 4 with 6 percent – with YouTube at 14 percent and Netflix at 8 percent), the results for children's viewing habits were sobering to read.
The report states:
Children and young people spend less time viewing broadcasters' services than any other age group. Today's 4-6-year-olds spend a larger proportion of their in-home viewing on YouTube (27 percent) than they do on all PSB services combined (21 percent). These patterns intensify with children's age: 7-12-year-olds spend over a third of their in-home viewing time (35 percent) on YouTube and 13-15-year-olds spend nearly half (49 percent) on YouTube and TikTok.
Postman Pat clearly isn't competing well with videos of children unwrapping toys.
To cheer up those of you who've already migrated to TikTok to keep up with the tweens, here's the only ever [12]posts published by the regulator itself. There are 31, almost all on the amusing topic of the TV shows that attracted the most complaints. Let them entertain you. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/public-service-broadcasting/public-service-media-review/transmission-critical-the-future-of-public-service-media.pdf?v=400631
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aH9hM1I7Bo5EYI59Chp9lgAAAYk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
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[5] https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/documents/bbc-annual-report-and-accounts-24-25.pdf
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/bbc_ai_news_accuracy/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/11/bitcoin_drive_landfill/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/07/apple_responds_bbc_complaint/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/20/british_broadcasting_corporation_softbans_tiktok/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aH9hM1I7Bo5EYI59Chp9lgAAAYk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aH9hM1I7Bo5EYI59Chp9lgAAAYk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://www.tiktok.com/@ofcom.org.uk
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The warning comes in the Public Service Media Review, [1]published [PDF] yesterday, which maintains that in a marketplace with services like Netflix and YouTube – with their "hyper-personalized experiences that are hugely popular with viewers and advertisers" – PSBs are finding it "much harder to fund the production and distribution of high-quality UK content to all audiences."
PSBs in the UK include the BBC – affectionately known by Brits as "Auntie" – as well as ad-supported ITV, STV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and S4C.
[2]
In a previous review, as well as the latest report, Ofcom said the British government needs to make a decision by early 2026 at the latest. Anything after that "risks undermining the investment and innovation needed to put universal TV distribution on a sustainable footing inclusive of all audiences."
[3]
[4]
There is an implicit assumption that cost savings may be realized as audience attention shifts toward ad-supported platforms such as YouTube. "Content over terrestrial masts, as well as multiple digital platforms," the regulator points out, "comes at a significant cost."
The transition to digital has already taken a great deal of investment. The BBC [5]last year [PDF] netted £5.9 billion ($6.15 billion) in revenue from a £174.50 ($235) license fee it collects from most UK households, as well as money from its BBC Studios commercial unit. The PSB is tasked with managing the transition to digital-only online services while continuing to support its audience for traditional broadcast television and radio.
[6]AI summaries turn real news into nonsense, BBC finds
[7]Man who binned 7,500 Bitcoin drive now wants to buy entire landfill to dig it up
[8]Apple shrugs off BBC complaint with promise to 'further clarify' AI content
[9]BBC to staff: Uninstall TikTok from our corporate kit unless you can 'justify' having it
Additionally, it says, emerging tech such as GenAI is revolutionizing how content is created, distributed, and consumed. Ofcom opines: "These seismic shifts are well underway and the next few years will be critical in determining the future of UK broadcasting."
To help put PSBs on a level footing in a YouTube world, the regulator said the government should consider using legislation to back PSB "content" on YouTube. "This is particularly important for news and children's content, and we believe there is a strong case for government to legislate to enable the change," Ofcom said.
[10]
"This would require significant work but would give prominence for PSB content on YouTube statutory backing, just as the Media Act provides PSB players prominence on connected TVs and other devices."
We asked Google for its comment on any potential moves to mandate greater prominence for content from PSBs on its video-sharing platform by law.
Ofcom's report adds: "While the PSBs continue to deliver significant volumes of first-run news and current affairs, new programming for many specialist genres has been declining. This is particularly the case for arts and classical music (hours of which have declined by 55 percent between 2014 and 2024), children's (43 percent), and comedy (39 percent)."
[11]
While the figures don't seem that startling in aggregate, with public service media in the form of PSBs making up a large proportion of people's total in-home video viewing (BBC 19 percent, ITV/STV 10 percent, Channel 4 with 6 percent – with YouTube at 14 percent and Netflix at 8 percent), the results for children's viewing habits were sobering to read.
The report states:
Children and young people spend less time viewing broadcasters' services than any other age group. Today's 4-6-year-olds spend a larger proportion of their in-home viewing on YouTube (27 percent) than they do on all PSB services combined (21 percent). These patterns intensify with children's age: 7-12-year-olds spend over a third of their in-home viewing time (35 percent) on YouTube and 13-15-year-olds spend nearly half (49 percent) on YouTube and TikTok.
Postman Pat clearly isn't competing well with videos of children unwrapping toys.
To cheer up those of you who've already migrated to TikTok to keep up with the tweens, here's the only ever [12]posts published by the regulator itself. There are 31, almost all on the amusing topic of the TV shows that attracted the most complaints. Let them entertain you. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/public-service-broadcasting/public-service-media-review/transmission-critical-the-future-of-public-service-media.pdf?v=400631
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aH9hM1I7Bo5EYI59Chp9lgAAAYk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aH9hM1I7Bo5EYI59Chp9lgAAAYk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aH9hM1I7Bo5EYI59Chp9lgAAAYk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/documents/bbc-annual-report-and-accounts-24-25.pdf
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/bbc_ai_news_accuracy/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/11/bitcoin_drive_landfill/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/07/apple_responds_bbc_complaint/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/20/british_broadcasting_corporation_softbans_tiktok/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aH9hM1I7Bo5EYI59Chp9lgAAAYk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aH9hM1I7Bo5EYI59Chp9lgAAAYk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://www.tiktok.com/@ofcom.org.uk
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
the BBC – affectionately known by Brits as "Auntie"
Guy de Loimbard
Auntie is a self description of the BBC, by the BBC.
Most Brits find BBC to be a little "meh", unless you were born in the30s and 40s where the BBC may still have some reverence as a bastion of good and truth, which, if you're not up to speed, the BBC has certainly been held to account in the recent past for not being truthful.
Look up Jimmy Saville, Rolf Harris etc.
I for one certainly do not look at the BBC with affection and call it Auntie.
Interesting implications for the licence fee
For non-UK readers, we in the UK need a licence to view anything that's being shown as it's broadcast. Doesn't matter whether it's BBC or Netflix/Amazon (showing live sport).
You don't need a licence to view non-broadcast, so your Netflix streaming is OK unless you're watching something that's live.
This leaves us in the ridiculous position that if a live stream video automatically starts when you open a web page, you're technically breaking the law.
The exception is that you do need a licence to watch iPlayer which is the BBC's equivalent of Netflix - watch repeats or old stuff.
If the BBC now moves its old content to YouTube, where does that leave the requirement for a licence to view old BBC content? Will iPlayer be the only place you need a licence to watch old BBC stuff?
Time for the BBC to become subscription?