The BBC and Channel 4 are discussing a merger of their streaming operations, according to new director‑general Matt Brittin, who told MPs the corporation wants a British “sovereign platform” to rival US giants such as Netflix.

Brittin said the BBC had “an approach and a conversation” with Channel 4, noting that the recent ITV‑Sky deal leaves the smaller broadcaster “very sub‑scale”. A tie‑up would let Channel 4 place its ad‑funded content on iPlayer while keeping its commercial model.

Brittin also argued the £180 annual licence fee is a “straitjacket” and proposed a “streamer levy” that would charge viewers of services such as Netflix, YouTube and TikTok. Enforcement remains difficult; only about 80 % of households pay the fee, though a QR‑code drive during the England‑Mexico World Cup match drew 9 mn viewers at 1 am.

For investors, the talks signal a possible consolidation that could give the combined entity enough scale to negotiate better content deals and advertising inventory, while the licence‑fee overhaul could unlock a new revenue stream if Parliament approves a broader levy.