Britbox was announced a few weeks ago as a collaboration between the BBC and ITV. If it’s to be a ‘Best of British’ streaming service though, isn’t there something missing?

Clearly, Channel 4 think there is and so during a speech at the Deloitte and Enders Media and Telecoms conference, Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon revealed that the broadcaster is in ongoing discussions with BBC and ITV to join the Britbox streaming service.Although not involved in the recent Britbox launch announcement, Mahon’s phrasing hinted that this was not just an off the cuff remark from a broadcaster anxious not to be left on the sidelines.“Of course, we are having positive and constructive discussions with ITV and the BBC about how Channel 4 could partner with them to build the scale of BritBox,” she said.And further comments hinted at plans for international collaborations :“Internationally we are pooling our reach with ProSieben, TF1 and Mediaset in the European Broadcasting Exchange to sell across borders,”Having laid out plans to move large portions of its staff and operations away from London, Channel 4 are creating new hubs in Glasgow and Bristol as well as a new HQ in Leeds. Reaching out into the UK hinterlands will no doubt provide a particular ‘Brit’ flavour to some of their programming, which could be seen as a valuable addition to Britbox which is selling itself as a 'Best of British' service.“It ensures that we sound more like our audience and we look more like the nation-building on the success of Hollyoaks, Ackley Bridge or Gogglebox and for the first time regularly co-anchoring Channel 4 News from places other than London. It’s who we are… ” Mahon went on to say.It has already been confirmed that BBC series McMafia, Last Tango in Halifax and sitcom Gavin & Stacey will feature on Britbox, alongside ITV's Broadchurch, and detective series Vera.Channel 4’s own lineup could easily contribute some uniquely Brit flavoured content in the shape of Peep Show, Black Books and Misfits.And where would anything dubbing itself the Best of British be without The Great British Bake Off?Source: Various online resources.