Broadcasters Say Streaming Shortcuts On TV Remotes Are Harming British Programming

Broadcasters representing the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 have warned that modern TV remotes, laden with sponsored shortcut buttons and voice-search placements, make it harder for viewers to find British programmes and could weaken the UK’s domestic TV sector.

Why Remotes Matter

Everyone TV — the joint venture that manages free-to-air platforms such as Freeview and Freely — has criticised the growing number of branded keys on remote controls that link directly to services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Manufacturers of streaming-focused devices have increasingly removed traditional numbered and coloured buttons and replaced them with rows of branded shortcuts and voice-search functions.

Impact On Discovery And Accessibility

Everyone TV argues these shortcuts and paid placements for voice-search results push UK-channel programmes down a long list of options, reducing the likelihood that viewers will discover or tune into British content. The organisation also warned that cluttered remote designs create "significant barriers" for older viewers and people with disabilities, who rely on familiar, tactile controls such as channel numbers and clear guide buttons.

"As television moves into the streaming age, viewers should not have to relearn how to watch TV," said Jonathan Thompson, chief executive of Everyone TV. "Familiar features such as channel numbers, programme guides and intuitive remote controls have helped make television accessible to generations of viewers and remain just as important in a streaming world."

What Broadcasters Want

In a submission to Ofcom, Everyone TV urged the regulator to require manufacturers to include clearly marked numbered buttons, coloured keys and a single, distinctive guide button on remotes. Broadcasters are also reported to be advocating for a dedicated "British TV" button that would take viewers directly to UK channel content.

Wider Industry Context

The debate over remote controls comes amid broader pressures on UK public service broadcasters: falling viewing to deep-pocketed US streamers, competition from platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, negotiations over funding models, and plans for major cost reductions at several broadcasters. Commercial channels are also navigating sharp declines in advertising revenues and strategic changes including mergers and asset sales.

Regulation And Concerns

Ofcom has said that any new rules for physical remote controls would likely require legislative change. The Government has already introduced laws to make British broadcasters easier to find on modern smart TV home screens and is consulting on proposals to require social platforms to give greater prominence to public service news — a plan that has provoked debate about free expression and regulatory oversight.

Bottom line: Broadcasters say remote design is no longer neutral: commercial placement and voice-search bias risk crowding out British content and creating accessibility problems, prompting calls for regulatory action to protect discoverability and older or disabled viewers.