BBC director general Matt Brittin has revealed that the corporation is in talks with Channel 4 about a streaming partnership that could see Channel 4's programmes hosted on the BBC's iPlayer. Giving evidence to Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Brittin said the BBC had received an approach from Channel 4 and argued that a deal would serve Channel 4's interests, describing the commercial broadcaster as looking "very subscale" amid wider industry consolidation such as Sky's proposed takeover of ITV. The news raises the prospect of hit shows — potentially even The Great British Bake Off — appearing on iPlayer.

Brittin suggested Channel 4 content could remain ad-funded on iPlayer, though he acknowledged an array of commercial, audience, public service and technical issues to resolve. Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra has said she would welcome a closer relationship with the BBC but has firmly rejected a full merger, warning it would mean Channel 4 being subsumed and losing its editorial voice. Industry figures, including Sony Pictures Television's Wayne Garvie, have urged the two broadcasters to form an alliance to protect UK public service broadcasting. Bake Off launched on the BBC in 2010 before moving to Channel 4 in 2017, and remains one of the channel's biggest series.