Two people with direct knowledge said the BBC and Channel 4 have held preliminary talks with government officials about combining some commercial operations with UKTV. Both broadcasters declined to confirm a deal.
Britain's BBC and Channel 4 have held preliminary talks with the government about a broader tie-up of some operations two people with direct knowledge told Reuters on Wednesday. One option would combine Channel 4 advertising channels including E4 and Film4 and its video-on-demand services with UKTV a commercial BBC subsidiary.
The people said a merged entity could be owned equally by the BBC and Channel 4. That would go beyond a content-sharing idea already floated by BBC director general Matt Brittin to put Channel 4 programmes on iPlayer. The Channel 4 flagship channel would stay outside the venture.
A BBC spokesperson declined to comment on the talks but said collaboration among public-service broadcasters is vital. Channel 4 said it would not comment on speculation and that it already sells ads for UKTV. UK Government Investments declined to comment.
The BBC said in June it would cut 550 jobs to save 500 million pounds over three years. Channel 4 said last month it would cut about 340 jobs. The account is preliminary talks not an agreed venture.
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- A BBC spokesperson said collaboration among public-service broadcasters is vital.
- Channel 4 said it supports greater collaboration but would not comment on speculation.