Deals

The suggestion that BBC podcasts on other people's platforms in the UK ("wherever you get your podcasts") might have some ads at the beginning and end has upset some commercial competitors. 

Global chief strategy officer Sebastian Enser-Wight said "I think our concerns about it are really the simple economics. If the market is suddenly flooded with an influx of new inventory, ultimately the prices will go down". 

This is all a bit odd; Amazon, Spotify, Apple and others already carry many BBC podcasts - and the pre-roll and post roll 'ads' are pointers to other BBC products.  The inventory is already there - it's just that the BBC is not getting money from it.  Would third-party advertisers flock to Desert Island Discs from The Joe Rogan Experience - that's the question.  And there is no doubt this would be the first time BBC first-run product within the UK has been supported by advertising revenue.  

As Tim Davie prepares to envisage a BBC running with more commercial partnerships, those left out of the deals will continue to cry foul over fair trading, unless some clearer principles are put into play.