The BBC iPlayer is to undergo its biggest revamp since the on demand platform was launched in 2007.
A new look and feel is promised as the corporation looks to keep up with the likes of Netflix and Amazon, and future launches from Apple, NBC and Disney.
BBC director-general Tony Hall will tell an audience later that while the BBC cannot challenge the financial muscle of the US streamers it can promote individual talent and offer a more human curation.
Lord Hall is expected to say: “iPlayer is a great service. But it can and will be even better.
“The BBC’s combination of backing great and different ideas, alongside a complete reinvention of iPlayer, will mean a unique service that will be of huge benefit to the public.
“It will be a new front door for British creativity. There are exciting times ahead.”
Ofcom has recently given the BBC permission to expand the iPlayer, lengthening the windows for new content from 30 days to 12 months. In some cases this could be extended further.
Charlotte Moore, director of content at the BBC, will say: “iPlayer will become the heart of everything we do; the gateway to all our programmes – a ‘total TV’ experience which will bring everything you want from BBC television into one place for the first time.
“There’s something else that makes our vision for iPlayer unique and special. In fact it’s the vital thing. It’s curated.
“We’re talking about a cutting-edge tech platform, run by humans. Because in a world of so much content and choice, a dynamic curated offering will become more and more important to people and will set the BBC apart.”
The BBC is focussing on its own platform having agreed to a 10% share in the UK version of BritBox with fellow public broadcaster ITV.
Shows such as Killing Eve have provided the BBC iPlayer with record audiences.
However, last month it emerged the show’s creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge had signed an exclusive deal with Amazon for a reported $16 million a year.
Source: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2019/10/07/revamp-on-the-way-for-bbc-iplayer/
