UK media regulator Ofcom warns that UK public service television is becoming an “endangered species” as viewers increasingly shift to global streaming platforms, particularly YouTube.
As The Guardian reports, the regulator is urging government intervention to ensure British content remains discoverable online.
According to Ofcom, programming from British public service broadcasters (PSBs) – including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 – is “under serious threat” amid a viewer exodus from traditional TV to global streaming platforms. The regulator specifically called for legislation to make UK-focused shows and news easier to find on third-party platforms, with YouTube highlighted as a priority due to its market dominance.
“Public service media is stitched into the cultural fabric of UK society,” Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Ofcom’s Broadcasting and Media Group Director, said in a statement. “But in a world dominated by global streaming platforms, public service media risks becoming an endangered species, and time is running out to intervene to protect it.”
The warning comes as YouTube continues its media ascent. According to separate research from Wall Street firm MoffettNathanson, YouTube is poised to surpass Disney as the largest media company by revenue by the end of 2025. The platform generated $54.2 billion in revenue in 2024 and ranks as the largest aggregate source of TV content in the United States, based on viewing time.
In the UK, Ofcom research shows 43% of children aged four to 17 watch YouTube on a weekly basis, while fewer than half of 16- to 24-year-olds tuned into broadcast TV in an average week last year. Online video-sharing platforms, such as YouTube, account for 19% of all viewing, outpacing the 9% share held by streaming services offered by public service media companies.
Regulatory Proposals
Ofcom recommends that PSBs “work urgently” with YouTube to ensure their content gains prominence, particularly for news and children’s content. The regulator believes there is a “strong case” for government legislation to enable this change.
The Media Act, which came into force last year, ensured that PSB content was given due prominence on TV-based services, including pay-TV, smart TVs, and streaming devices. However, this legislation did not extend to video-sharing platforms.
Ofcom also indicates that additional public funding would be needed to support genres such as news and children’s content. The regulator recommends that “priority be given to socially valuable but commercially less viable genres,” noting that the issue of additional funding for public service TV is “for the government to consider.”
These findings come as the government heads into a review of the BBC’s royal charter, including the future of the license fee funding model.
Industry Transformation
Ofcom plans to launch a “fundamental” review of broadcast TV and radio regulation, aiming to “streamline regulation and strip away any outdated and unnecessary restrictions.” The regulator will begin a “comprehensive” call for evidence this autumn.
The challenges facing UK public service broadcasting reflect broader shifts in media consumption patterns. As YouTube CEO Neal Mohan noted, TV screens have overtaken other devices as the primary viewing medium for the platform, with viewers watching “over 1B hours of YouTube content on TVs daily.”
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UK media regulator Ofcom warns that UK public service television is becoming an “endangered species” as viewers increasingly shift to global streaming platforms, particularly YouTube.
As The Guardian reports, the regulator is urging government intervention to ensure British content remains discoverable online.
According to Ofcom, programming from British public service broadcasters (PSBs) – including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 – is “under serious threat” amid a viewer exodus from traditional TV to global streaming platforms. The regulator specifically called for legislation to make UK-focused shows and news easier to find on third-party platforms, with YouTube highlighted as a priority due to its market dominance.
“Public service media is stitched into the cultural fabric of UK society,” Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Ofcom’s Broadcasting and Media Group Director, said in a statement. “But in a world dominated by global streaming platforms, public service media risks becoming an endangered species, and time is running out to intervene to protect it.”
The warning comes as YouTube continues its media ascent. According to separate research from Wall Street firm MoffettNathanson, YouTube is poised to surpass Disney as the largest media company by revenue by the end of 2025. The platform generated $54.2 billion in revenue in 2024 and ranks as the largest aggregate source of TV content in the United States, based on viewing time.
In the UK, Ofcom research shows 43% of children aged four to 17 watch YouTube on a weekly basis, while fewer than half of 16- to 24-year-olds tuned into broadcast TV in an average week last year. Online video-sharing platforms, such as YouTube, account for 19% of all viewing, outpacing the 9% share held by streaming services offered by public service media companies.
Regulatory Proposals
Ofcom recommends that PSBs “work urgently” with YouTube to ensure their content gains prominence, particularly for news and children’s content. The regulator believes there is a “strong case” for government legislation to enable this change.
The Media Act, which came into force last year, ensured that PSB content was given due prominence on TV-based services, including pay-TV, smart TVs, and streaming devices. However, this legislation did not extend to video-sharing platforms.
Ofcom also indicates that additional public funding would be needed to support genres such as news and children’s content. The regulator recommends that “priority be given to socially valuable but commercially less viable genres,” noting that the issue of additional funding for public service TV is “for the government to consider.”
These findings come as the government heads into a review of the BBC’s royal charter, including the future of the license fee funding model.
Industry Transformation
Ofcom plans to launch a “fundamental” review of broadcast TV and radio regulation, aiming to “streamline regulation and strip away any outdated and unnecessary restrictions.” The regulator will begin a “comprehensive” call for evidence this autumn.
The challenges facing UK public service broadcasting reflect broader shifts in media consumption patterns. As YouTube CEO Neal Mohan noted, TV screens have overtaken other devices as the primary viewing medium for the platform, with viewers watching “over 1B hours of YouTube content on TVs daily.”