British broadcasters call for dedicated TV remote button
UK broadcasters want a dedicated remote button to compete with Netflix and YouTube, but global device makers resist.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
British broadcasters are pushing for a dedicated button on TV remotes to help their services compete with global streaming giants. The request reflects the growing importance of the remote control as a piece of media technology, where a single press can determine which service a viewer opens.
The remote has a long history. According to technology historian Ed Thomas, remote controls existed in various forms from the late 19th century, but they were mostly used for industrial and military purposes. Consumer adoption only took off with television. Early remotes solved problems like constant detuning of the picture. Some early designs used a long lead, which annoyed users who tripped over it. The American company Zenith developed the first wireless versions, including the Flashmatic (a torch-like device) and later the Space Commander, which used sonic waves and gave rise to the term "clicker". These early devices proved so popular that Zenith credited them with a 40% increase in TV sales.
Today, dedicated buttons on remotes are seen as valuable territory. Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon are often given prime positions. Professor Katherine Johnson, from the University of Leeds, said there is no clear independent research on how much these shortcuts drive viewing, because the data is proprietary. But she noted that the fact large global players pay for such buttons suggests they do make a difference. The challenge for British broadcasters is that device manufacturers operate internationally and are reluctant to make hardware changes for individual countries. "It is really hard for any of the individual nations to say this is what we want," she said. The outcome may depend on whether enough pressure can be applied at a global level, but for now the remote remains a contested space.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| Device manufacturers operate internationally and resist making hardware changes for individual nations. | |
| Early remote controls were used for industrial and military purposes before becoming consumer products after World War II. | |
| Zenith's 1956 wireless remote used sonic waves and is the origin of the term 'clicker'. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This segment from The Media Show combines a historical look at the invention and evolution of the TV remote with a current discussion of the British broadcasters' request. It uses expert commentary from a tech historian and a media academic to explain why dedicated buttons matter and why the request faces obstacles. The tone is analytical and balanced, avoiding advocacy.
- “Those buttons are valuable territory. They put a particular service one press away.”
- “It's really hard for any of the individual nations to say this is what we want.”
- “The only way that could happen is if you had some...”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.