BBC DG Tim Davie has mentioned high quality TV ought to “not be about the one that will pay the most important examine” as British broadcasting chiefs gathered for the launch of free streaming service Freely.

Davie, Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon and ITV boss Carolyn McCall have been current ultimately evening’s London launch of the service that may for the primary time ship stay tv over broadband, which is run by Freeview operator Everybody TV.

Every broadcasting chief made an impassioned speech concerning the energy of free TV, with Davie saying: “If you wish to maintain a society collectively, it’s having free entry to those providers, the place prominence will not be about the one that will pay the most important examine.”

“This group is exclusive on the planet,” he added. “We discuss ourselves down as a rustic too typically, however we’re market leaders on this.”

McCall, in the meantime, mentioned there’s a “actually massive demand for British content material in comparison with the streamers,” noting that the likes of Netflix, Amazon and Disney would “by no means have made” smash ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Put up Workplace “or a number of exhibits we do which are public service.” “They are often massive hits however they’re nonetheless public service,” she added.

Mahon mentioned folks in “France, Germany and different international locations wish to understand how we’re doing this, they wish to convey [platforms like Freely] to their audiences there.” She was talking a couple of months after the boss of French business web M6 mentioned British broadcasters had “proven us the way in which” with Freely.

“The UK PSB VOD gamers are rising, the expansion charges this 12 months are off the charts and that’s actually essential,” added Mahon. “That may be a signal of viewers demand for significantly British content material… Within the battle for reality, that’s the key factor that we should ship.”

The trio have been talking a couple of weeks after the long-gestating Media Invoice, which improves prominence of public service TV, was rushed via parliament earlier than it was dissolved for the overall election.

Freely has already struck distribution offers with a lot of sensible TVs and the primary iterations can be found on Bush and Hisense 2024 4K sensible TV fashions. Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic and Metz are all confirmed to supply the brand new streaming service.