British communications regulator Ofcom is urging broadcasters, digital platforms, and the government to urgently chart a sustainable future for television, warning that public service media (PSM) faces serious threats without coordinated action and reform.
In a stark statement released Tuesday, Ofcom said the ability of public service broadcasters (PSBs) to produce and distribute high-quality British programming is under growing pressure due to evolving technology and audience behavior.
While traditional broadcast networks like the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Paramount’s Channel 5 each have their own streaming platforms, they are struggling to keep pace with foreign streamers like Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon’s Prime Video, which are chipping away at their share of TV in the United Kingdom.
“Public service media is stitched into the cultural fabric of U.K. society,” said Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Ofcom’s Director of Broadcasting and Media. “It starts conversations, educates and informs, and brings us together in moments of national importance. Our six-point plan maps out a clear route that would help sustain public service media for the future.”
Among the top concerns raised by Ofcom is the lack of clarity surrounding the future of television distribution. The agency said a definitive decision must be made by early 2026 to ensure continued universal access to TV services and to give stakeholders enough time to invest in necessary technologies. Delays, Ofcom warned, would hinder innovation and put inclusive access at risk.
To confront these challenges, the regulator laid out a proposed strategy that calls for collective action from PSBs, technology platforms, the government, and Ofcom itself. Central to the plan is the demand for stronger prominence and discoverability of public broadcasting content on third-party platforms, particularly YouTube, which remains a dominant gateway for news and children’s programming.
Some broadcasters, including Channel 4, are already putting their shows and other content on YouTube. But Ofcom said plans to leverage YouTube to help distribute content need to expand, and the regulator has encouraged broadcasters to work with YouTube and other online platforms to improve visibility and secure equitable commercial arrangements.
Another pillar of the plan involves securing stable and adequate funding for PSBs, especially in less commercially viable genres such as local news and children’s programming. Ofcom is pushing for continued investment in media literacy initiatives, arguing that the ability to critically engage with content is vital in an increasingly digital-first world.
The regulator also wants to see domestic broadcasters form more ambitious strategic and technological partnerships, warning that scale is now essential to compete with global giants like Netflix and YouTube. While Ofcom emphasized the need to preserve competition and media plurality, it also acknowledged that collaboration, rather than fragmentation, will be key to survival.
Finally, the agency called for an overhaul of outdated regulations designed for the analog era. Much of the current framework, it noted, was crafted for a world dominated by linear television and needs to be streamlined to reflect how audiences now consume media.
Ofcom is currently implementing reforms tied to the 2024 Media Act and said it will launch a comprehensive call for evidence this autumn to inform further regulatory modernization. The watchdog is also working alongside the government on the BBC Charter review, which it described as a critical component in shaping the future of public service content.
