BBC May Cooperate With ITV To Launch Satellite Channels

Bob Phillis, deputy director general of the BBC, speaking yesterday at a Labour Party conference on the future of the media, said that the BBC is considering partnership deals with ITV companies to launch specialist satellite channels around the world. New international satellite channels are seen as a way of generating revenue for the BBC to plough back into domestic programme making.

The BBC is also considering buying more television programmes from ITV, C4 and independent producers. Bob Phillis said that Anglia and Central had wide expertise in natural history and documentary programming.

The BBC has already announced an alliance with Pearson to launch two satellite channels for Europe later this year.