UK broadcasters are reportedly looking to reach an agreement by November to create a single streaming app that would act as a gateway to their catch-up and on-demand services, the Telegraph reported.
According to the newspaper, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 had begun to discuss this project at the beginning of the year, but now they are urgent in closing the agreement to be able to integrate this app into the latest generation of Smart TV that will be launched in 2022.
The project, which is being discussed under the aegis of Freeview, the broadcasters’ previous highly successful joint project to create a single digital-terrestrial TV platform, aims to create a simpler navigation experience for viewers faced with a growing array of choice from global streaming giants.
According to the Telegraph, which cited unnamed sources, the goal is to create a single joint app that would surface content from all the broadcasters that could be viewed direct or could take viewers through to the individual participants’ streaming services – BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4 and My5.
The report also says that the project could see dedicated buttons for the app on TV remotes. Broadcasters are looking to strike deal with TV manufacturers first to secure distribution on the next wave of smart TVs, followed by streaming devices and finally pay TV.
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