BBC Director General Matt Brittin has floated the idea of transforming iPlayer into a more open, creator-led service with a “public service algorithm”, making it resemble YouTube while retaining BBC editorial standards. The proposal, described as early-stage thinking rather than policy, matters because it signals a potential shift in how the BBC competes for online audiences and responds to weaknesses in iPlayer’s technology and recommendations.

Brittin said iPlayer had fallen behind rivals after years of prioritising programme spending over technology, despite retaining strong audience reach. His “iPlayer 2.0” vision would aim to educate, inform and entertain without commercial or US technology-company incentives, but he gave no details on creator pay or participation; it would also come amid plans to cut 2,000 roles and save about £500 million, after the BBC lost £1.3 billion in funding over the past decade.