BBC and Channel 4 Open Merger Talks to Challenge US Streaming Giants

The BBC and Channel 4 are in early talks to merge their streaming services or route Channel 4 content through BBC iPlayer, BBC boss Matt Brittin confirmed to government officials. Brittin framed the move as necessary to compete with Netflix, TikTok, and YouTube. Discussions remain preliminary, with commercial, public service, and technical issues unresolved. The talks follow a separate Sky-ITV streaming deal and mark the third consolidation attempt between the broadcasters in two decades.