MIP London 2025 featured the panel “YouTube & UK Broadcasters: the perfect partners?”, where the synergy between UK broadcasters and YouTube to keep the relevance of linear content alive and connect with younger audiences was analyzed. The debate, moderated by James White, COO at Intellygence Consultancy, brought together Neil Price, leader of film & TV partnerships at YouTube UK, and Matt Risley, managing director of 4Studio at Channel 4, who offered a comprehensive view on the evolution of the audiovisual industry.
Neil Price opened the discussion by highlighting the impact of consumption time on the platform: ‘Based on the excitement in the room, there is a sense that more and more people are spending time on YouTube, which opens up new opportunities for broadcasters to rethink their strategy’. Price explained that YouTube not only offers accurate tools and data to understand the audience, but also positions itself as a critical monetization platform for creators and broadcasters. According to him, the challenge for traditional partners is to understand how to convert investment into incremental revenue, something that has been improving as business models are refined.
Matt Risley highlighted compelling figures that support the effectiveness of these partnerships. ‘Two years ago, we started experimenting, and this past year we have seen exponential growth: full episode views have increased by 170% and revenues by around 80% in long-form content’ he said. The executive stressed that Channel 4‘s strategy is based on a two-pronged approach: on the one hand, the clipping and adaptation of linear content to capture audiences on YouTube, and on the other, the creation of exclusive editorial proposals for the platform. In addition, Risley explained how the documentary channel, among others, has managed to consolidate itself as one of the fastest growing spaces, demonstrating that “specific” content for British audiences has a real and measurable impact.
During the panel, there was discussion about the desirability of handing over some content to YouTube, rather than concentrating all resources on traditional programming or proprietary streaming services. The conversation revolved around how the platform allows experimenting with formats, launching series in installments and taking advantage of audience data to adjust both editorial and commercial strategies. In this regard, Price highlighted the importance of “listening to the audience”: channel subscriptions, interaction and retention at certain points in the content are key indicators for improving the quality of the offer and optimizing revenues.
The panel concluded that the partnership between British broadcasters and YouTube is undoubtedly a model to be followed internationally. Analytics tools, access to digital native audiences and the ability to adapt content to current consumption habits are elements that allow brands to evolve without losing their identity. Thus, while the audiovisual sector reinvents itself in the digital era, the case of Channel 4 and its commitment to YouTube shows that collaboration between traditional television and emerging platforms can be the perfect formula to ensure relevance and growth in an ever-changing market.
