“I want to iPlayer and chill”: BBC Director-General reveals streaming ambitions
BBC Director-General Matt Brittin has set out an ambitious vision for BBC iPlayer as the broadcaster adapts to a future increasingly driven by on-demand viewing.
Speaking to BBC staff at the Radio Theatre on Wednesday, Brittin suggested the broadcaster’s future increasingly lies in on-demand viewing, with iPlayer expected to play a central role in the corporation’s long-term strategy.
While outlining plans for significant change across the BBC, the newly appointed chief said audience viewing habits are shifting rapidly away from traditional broadcast television and towards digital platforms.
“We have to make decisions about when the on-demand consumption of our content starts to go so far ahead of the broadcast consumption that we make choices about, well, when we do move fully to on demand, and that can be painful for audiences,” he said.
However, Brittin made clear that strengthening iPlayer is at the heart of the BBC’s plans, even joking about the platform’s future appeal compared with popular streamers.
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“How do we make an iPlayer that’s such a great destination that people say, ‘I want to iPlayer and chill’,” he quipped, drawing laughter from those in attendance.
The comments suggest Brittin wants iPlayer to evolve beyond its traditional role as a catch-up service and become a destination platform in its own right.
He said the corporation needs to ensure BBC content is easy to access wherever audiences are watching, whether on smart TVs, connected vehicles or other digital devices.
“We’re fighting the battle for prominence in a new world of infinite choice, and it’s really important that we secure that place in people’s lives and in their hearts…to do all this, we’re going to need to transform our organisation,” he said.
