Weekly news round-up: PSBs urged to collaborate and 1.5bn 5G connections by 2024

Ofcom chief urges PSBs to collaborate 
Sharon White has advised the UK’s public service broadcasters to launch a single digital platform to bring together all BBC, ITV, C4 and C5 content with a single login for users, Digital TV Europe reported. White advocated for collaboration in the ongoing battle against FAANG to be at the forefront of “the technological revolution that is transforming TV.”

Ericsson predicts 1.5bn 5G connections by 2024
5G networks are expected to cover 40% of the world’s population by 2024, with 1.5 billion subscriptions to the latest mobile broadband service, according to the latest Mobility Report by Ericsson. North America is predicted to lead with 55% of all mobile subscriptions exclusively on the 5G network and nearly 9bn mobile subscriptions with 6.2 billion “unique subscribers” using mobile communications, reported Telecoms.

Zuckerberg absent from fake news hearing
Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg was noticeably absent from the international inquiry into disinformation and fake news, despite being formally invited. Parliamentarians from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, Latvia, Singapore and the UK came together to discuss the Facebook policies and actions after the Cambridge Analytics scandal and rumours of app misconduct, reported the BBC.

YouTube promises free-to-air originals
A shift in its paid content strategy will see YouTube make future original programming free to all users with advertising from 2020. Reuters reported the change in Premium subscription options means the paid version will remove adverts and offer music streaming privileges.  

Netflix to up EU productions in 2019
The streaming service has declared it will increase its European productions by a third next year. The number of documentaries, series and films will increase from 141 this year to 221 in 2019. According to the Telegraph, more than 150 of these will be original shows. The push comes after the European Parliament passed new laws which force online streaming services including Netflix and Amazon to ensure 30% of all content is made in Europe. 

NHK to launch 8K channel tomorrow
NHK has been testing its Supr Hi Vision 8K content since its announced last year it would be prepared for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games. According to TV Technology, it will launch with the first ever 8K broadcast of 2001: A Space Odyssey because it was shot in 70mm, the highest quality available half a century ago when created.

230K viewers for EE’s 5G broadcast 
Sunday’s EE Wembley Cup was the world’s first live sporting event to be broadcast over 5G, using remote production with 230,000 viewers watching exclusive on Spencer FC’s YouTube channel. According to TVB Europe, the broadcast was captured and delivered over 5G-enabled technology with EE and BT Sport collaborting. 

Sony launches Spiderman AR experience
Sony along with developers Trigger and 8th Wall will launch Spider-Verse Web AR Experience, a mobile augmented reality experience based on its animation enabling users to see, take pictures and share with friends on 14 December. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Trigger Chief Executive Jason Yim ”web AR is the final barrier for mass adoption of AR.”