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ITV has accused the BBC of buying up expensive US shows to ‘maximise’ younger audience viewing figures.
The commercial broadcaster raised fears the relaunch of BBC3 as a traditional TV channel could see it filled with bought-in American shows.
ITV pointed to the BBC’s acquisition of revamped US series Gossip Girl which it said ‘saw the BBC offer significantly above the market’.
It told Ofcom this showed ‘the BBC’s primary objective is to maximise audience share of 16-34s in any way possible’ and that BBC3 risks being too commercial in its approach.
ITV told Ofcom this showed ‘the BBC’s primary objective is to maximise audience share of 16-34s in any way possible’ and that BBC3 risks being too commercial in its approach
It said there was nothing to stop the BBC ‘spending the vast majority’ of BBC3’s content budget on ‘popular US shows to air in prime time slots’.
ITV made the comments, which also included concerns that BBC3 could be full of repeats, in its response to the Ofcom consultation about the return of the TV channel.
The broadcaster said in the past US animations American Dad and Family Guy had driven a third of all BBC3 viewing, adding it was now ‘very concerned that
