BritBox US Tops 4 Million Subscribers, BBC Boss Tim Davie Says

BBC director general Tim Davie and BBC chair Samir Shah were grilled by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the House of Commons in Britain’s parliament on Tuesday, answering questions on a range of issues. Davie shared that streamer BritBox U.S. has topped the 4 million subscriber mark.

“BritBox in the U.S. is now over 4 million subscribers (and) is pretty much very low churn, and the enterprise value is very high,” he said.

“The case for the BBC is even stronger than it has ever been before,” Shah said on the first anniversary of his starting his role, citing the need for a core fact-based news provider amid the dangers of “opinionated news,” misinformation and disinformation.

He also said that global streamers make brilliant content, but the BBC is the key player able to “focus on British storytelling for British audiences.” Plus, the BBC and other public service broadcasters can provide shared experiences for mass audiences. “but the is higher,” Davie added.People must “feel involved” in society instead of the current risk of “disengaging entirely,” he emphasized. “Building a link to the BBC and feeling ownership is important.”

Over 4 million subscribers have signed up for BritBox U.S., Davie also shared.

“Nothing is ever perfect, and we are making some changes,” Shah said about what a recent board efficiency review found.

A “charter for a generation” that protects the BBC and its independence is his goal, he also shared on Tuesday.

The “regular scrutiny session” on the work of the British public broadcaster, whose commercial arm BBC Studios last week held its annual content showcase in London, saw members of parliament question the executives about funding issues, financial challenges faced by the BBC ahead of the review of its charter, which is due to expire at the end of 2027, as well as editorial processes, impartiality processes, workplace culture, the future of TV, as well as recent controversies.