DG: BBC a digital catalyst, not monopolist
October 15, 2013
The BBC is a “creative catalyst” that will spur the market for digital programmes says director-general Tony Hall, and he denies the breadth and depth of its activities stifle commercial efforts and start ups.
Hall told the Technology Innovators Forum at the BBC’s Broadcasting House that the Corporation’s new plan to open a BBC-branded store for digital programmes would open up access to BBC content like never before. “Just 10 per cent of the public service content commissioned by the BBC finds its way onto commercial platforms like Amazon and iTunes. We are going to overcome this barrier to the success of British creative producers. This is a great story for UK audiences and a great opportunity for the UK creative sector to find new ways to sell their programmes.”
Hall denied claims that the corporation has stifled creativity and used its market dominance to crush commerical innovation – arguing that it does the opposite. “The BBC acts as catalyst for creativity. It acts as a great place where people meet and spark off each other. A great place to incubate ideas and spread them.”