Channel 4 shows could play on BBC iPlayer, says CEO Priya Dogra
Channel 4 shows could play on BBC iPlayer.
Chief executive Priya Dogra said she is open-minded about putting the broadcaster's programmes on the BBC's streaming service. She spoke on Tuesday 29 September at the Royal Television Society London Convention at Kings Place, London.
Asked if Channel 4 was serious about collaborating with the BBC, Dogra replied: "I don't see why not." The exchange was reported by Deadline.
The session was billed as a look at the major changes Dogra is making before the end of her first year as Channel 4 chief executive, according to the RTS programme. The convention brings together senior figures from British television. This year's line-up also included Amazon's Kelly Day and Carolyn McCall, with Prime Video as principal sponsor, Deadline reported in May.
There is a catch to any iPlayer deal. Channel 4 pays for its shows through advertising. Dogra said iPlayer would have to accommodate that funding model for sharing to work.
Viewers watch Channel 4 for free. Advertisers foot the bill. That is different from iPlayer, which carries no adverts.
A merger is not on the cards. "I don't want to merge with the BBC because it will be a takeover by the BBC," Dogra said.
She also described pressure on budgets. Channel 4 has gone from spending 30p in the pound to 40p in the pound on costs outside programming over the past five years, she said. That leaves less of each pound for new shows.
The comments follow the first stage of a long-term transformation strategy launched in September 2026 to prioritise spending on content, according to Channel 4. Dogra confirmed job cuts after a strategic review of the broadcaster, Deadline reported.
Dogra said she hopes to appoint a new director of programmes in the coming weeks. That role leads decisions on what gets commissioned, meaning which new series are ordered and which return.
For viewers, this means choice could widen without a new app or subscription. A Channel 4 drama or documentary could sit alongside BBC titles on iPlayer, if the two sides agree terms. No deal has been announced.
