BBC 'could share iPlayer with ITV, C4'

The BBC could share the technology platform that powers its iPlayer content on demand system with Britain's commercial public service broadcasters, it has emerged.

According to The Guardian, the proposal is being examined as part of a range of options for partnerships with other broadcasters, which the BBC is exploring as an alternative to giving away licence fee funds directly or giving Channel 4 - which continues to face a £100m funding gap - a stake in, or even control, over BBC Worldwide.

A deal to share iPlayer technology would give ITV, Channel 4 and potentially other broadcasters access to a sophisticated post-production, transcoding and playout system, along with the front-end software that draws together video and audio content from multiple sources. iPlayer is also available on demand on digital cable.