BBC accused of ‘pulling a fast one’ on producers over Britbox plans
The BBC has been accused of “pulling a fast one” on independent production companies over new rules that could give Britbox an advantage over streaming rivals.
The broadcaster has proposed new regulations meaning producers can sell their rights to streaming services after 12 months, but only subject to conditions that would be tougher for competitors to meet than Britbox.
Read more: BBC gets Ofcom approval to stream shows on iPlayer for a year
The rights would only be available without conditions after 18 months, meaning the changes could give Britbox – the upcoming streaming service run by ITV and the BBC – a six-month head start over rivals such as Netflix.
But the move has sparked complaints that the BBC is trying to promote its own on-demand service at the expense of indie producers.
“It appears that the BBC is pulling a fast one as there is no guarantee that better phasing of content between linear, broadcaster video on-demand services and Britbox will help content retain its value,” Teresa Potocka, founder and chief executive of Sensethefuture Pictures, told CityAM
“An absence of subscription video on-demand services competing to acquire content would diminish its attractiveness and give Britbox an appreciable competitive advantage.”
One production industry source told the Sunday Times, which first reported the clash, that the move was a “stitch-up”.
“The BBC is looking to introduce criteria that will only serve its own commercial activity,” the source said.
Under the new proposals, streaming platforms would need to prove they operate a corporate strategy “designed specifically to invest in and support the UK creative industries and public service broadcaster ecology as a whole”.
They would also be required to carry “prominent and approved” BBC branding on any content purchased.
Regulator Ofcom has said it is minded to accept the changes, but has opened a consultation on the issue.
Read more: Britbox: BBC and ITV strike deal for new streaming service
In a statement, the BBC said: “We want to provide opportunities for producers to benefit from the sale of content earlier, but it has to be in a way that protects the BBC’s investment for the licence fee payer and the BBC’s long term relevance to UK audiences.”
“Britbox will be an additional investor in the market, and there’s nothing in our approach that will stop producers getting a fair market rate for their content. It’s for producers and their distributors to decide who they want to sell to and on what terms.”
It comes after Ofcom approved plans to extend the availability of BBC shows on iPlayer from 30 days to 12 months, despite concerns the changes could harm competition.
Main image credit: BBC