BBC iPlayer may have killed the Red Button

News
By Hugh Langley
published

RIP little button

iPlayer

The BBC has announced that the Red Button's days might be almost up, following a government review into the broadcaster's operations.

A report from the BBC has confirmed another round of cuts to address significant losses to what it calls the iPlayer "loophole". According to the BBC, a shortfall has been created by people using its catch-up services without having to pay for a licence.

A number of steps are to be taken to close the loophole, one of which is "exploring a phased exit from the broadcast Red Button service".

Red dead redemption

£150 million worth of cuts have been announced today, which will also see some reductions to the BBC's coverage of sports, comedy and entertainment.

BBC Director-General Tony Hall said in a statement: "The BBC has and is doing everything possible to make sure the impact on the public is minimised. Wherever possible we're targeting savings by creating a simpler, leaner BBC."

This is just the start, though. The BBC is set to announce another round of cost-saving measures in the Spring. A further £550m of savings needs to be made by 2022.

"We will inevitably have to either close or reduce some services," said the broadcasting company.

Hugh Langley
Hugh Langley

Hugh Langley is the ex-News Editor of TechRadar. He had written for many magazines and websites including Business Insider, The Telegraph, IGN, Gizmodo, Entrepreneur Magazine, WIRED (UK), TrustedReviews, Business Insider Australia, Business Insider India, Business Insider Singapore, Wareable, The Ambient and more.


Hugh is now a correspondent at Business Insider covering Google and Alphabet, and has the unfortunate distinction of accidentally linking the TechRadar homepage to a rival publication.