
The web publisher backed the idea of a public body commissioning content and "secur[ing] greater reach and impact through the use of non-exclusive, innovative rights models and distribution via multiple channels".
Content could be produced independently of a broadcaster, with distribution handled by the producer itself or by the public service funding body.
"Both these models open the possibility of commercial arrangements to share advertising revenue, with a share returning to the funding body to invest in more public service content," said Emma Ascroft, Yahoo! head of public and social policy.
The company also objected to the suggestion of obliging or incentivising search services to favour public service content. It also added to concerns that additional public service content online provision could "crowd out or discourage market provision". The submission said: "The BBC already accounts for a significant proportion of the UK’s online audience and creates a difficult landscape for other media owners to compete."
Ascroft wrote: "Ofcom is right to focus at this stage on the pressure these changes are placing on the obligations PSBs have under the existing framework. However, it must be careful not to continue the review along such narrow lines but to widen its perspective in phase two and focus on how to meet users’ expectations and developing needs from digital and traditional, broadcast media in the future."



