Ofcom say that UK public service content should be findable on YouTube

With more viewing shifting to third-party platforms, PSM companies need to work with these platforms so audiences can see and find PSM content.

As a priority, public service broadcasters should work urgently with YouTube, to ensure that PSM content is prominent and easy to find on the platforms, and on fair commercial terms. This is particularly important for news and children’s content, and we believe there is a strong case for Government to legislate to enable the change.

YouTube is the world’s most popular video site, watched by 43% of children aged 4-17 on a weekly basis. TV screens are also rapidly becoming more popular for watching YouTube content.

Additional public funding will be necessary to support specific genres, as advocated for by industry, is for the Government to consider. Ofcom recommend that priority be given to socially valuable but commercially less viable genres, such as news, local news and children’s content.

Public service media supports the UK’s production sector – a global leader which contributes meaningfully to the creative economy and attracts significant investment into the UK.

But viewers now spend less than half of their in-home viewing on traditional linear TV channels, and this is declining. Last year, fewer than half (48%) of 16-24-year-olds tuned into broadcast TV in an average week, while younger children spend far more time watching YouTube.

Additionally, PSM companies’ video-on-demand players only account for 9% of all viewing, significantly less than subscription streaming services (15%) and online video sharing platforms (19%). Consumption of online news – where misinformation and disinformation can thrive – continues to edge further ahead of broadcast TV news.