BBC boss meets Netflix, YouTube, Apple and Amazon to talk partnerships
BBC director general Matt Brittin has met the global leaders of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and YouTube to discuss strategic partnerships. He told BBC staff about the meetings on Wednesday.
Brittin took the top BBC job after running Google's business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The BBC's media editor Katie Razzall has said he was chosen for that insider knowledge of big tech BBC.
The recent round of talks included Netflix co-chief executive Greg Peters, who met Brittin during a visit to London in recent weeks, according to Deadline. Brittin said he wants BBC programmes to be more prominent on Netflix and YouTube, meaning easier to find on home screens and in search.
He has previously spoken about putting more BBC News output on Netflix and YouTube. Before Brittin arrived, the BBC had already agreed to produce original shows for YouTube for the first time in a pact with the Google-owned video service.
The talks come as the British government plans to compel YouTube to promote public service content. YouTube has called that idea "forced prominence."
There is an audience reason for the outreach. Figures reported in January 2025 showed Netflix overtaking BBC1 for UK audience reach for the first time, with a record reach of 46.4 million after series including the UK original Black Doves Deadline. BBC1 pulled back ahead in December, but the shift showed how tight the race for viewers has become.
Brittin has told staff the BBC must become more like Silicon Valley, with greater investment in iPlayer, the BBC's streaming service, to help audiences discover programmes Broadband TV News. The BBC is preparing to operate fewer linear channels, the traditional broadcast channels watched live at set times.
Separately, Reuters has reported that the BBC and Channel 4 have scoped out a joint-venture deal to cut costs. Unnamed sources cited by Reuters said the proposal could be equally owned and could include Channel 4 content on iPlayer Reuters. Channel 4 has ruled out a full merger but says sharing content on iPlayer is on the table.
What makes this stand out is the breadth of it. Four rival platforms in a few weeks. For viewers, the result could decide whether the next BBC drama, documentary or news clip finds you inside iPlayer, or waiting on Netflix and YouTube as well.
