We urge the Government to abandon proposals in the “Watch This Space” consultation that would require online platforms to promote selected media organisations through recommendation systems, and protect viewer choice by keeping recommendations based on users’ interests.

Many commercial platforms succeed because they recommend content based on each person’s interests. Whether someone watches educational videos, gaming, history, science or independent journalism, recommendations should reflect those choices. Public Service Media should compete by creating content people choose to watch, not through regulatory preference. In our view, government should not influence what content platforms recommend to viewers.