BBC to make shows for YouTube in landmark new deal
BBC and YouTube Announce Landmark Content Partnership
The BBC has announced a landmark partnership with YouTube that will see the corporation produce content specifically tailored for the platform. While the broadcaster has previously used the Google-owned site to share clips and trailers, this new agreement marks a strategic shift towards creating bespoke programming for YouTube’s younger audience.
The content may also be available on the BBC’s own platforms, iPlayer and Sounds. For viewers outside the United Kingdom, these new programmes will feature advertisements, providing a vital new revenue stream for the BBC at a time when its future funding model remains under intense scrutiny.
"Next Level" Connection
The collaboration will launch with the Winter Olympics in February, featuring a blend of entertainment, news, and sport. On Wednesday, both organisations stated the deal would showcase "the best homegrown storytelling and news from across the BBC."
Director-General Tim Davie remarked that the move would help the BBC "connect with audiences in new ways."
"We’re off to a good start, but this is taking us to the next level," he said. "Importantly, this relationship also gives new viewers different routes into BBC services such as BBC iPlayer and Sounds."
Investing in the Next Generation
The partnership also aligns with the government's Creative Industries Sector Plan. In collaboration with the National Film and Television School, the BBC and YouTube will invest in the "next generation of creators" through a series of workshops and seminars designed to help 150 media professionals expand their digital expertise.
Pedro Pina, Vice President of YouTube for EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), expressed his delight at the partnership, noting its potential to "reimagine the boundaries of digital storytelling."
"This collaboration adapts the BBC’s world-class content for a digital-first audience, ensuring its cultural impact reaches a younger, more global demographic," Pina said. "We are not simply telling the stories of today; we are setting the tone for the storytellers of tomorrow."
Shifting Media Trends
The deal arrives as traditional broadcasters face increasing competition from social media. Recent statistics from the ratings agency Barb showed that in December, YouTube’s reach in the UK (52 million) slightly outpaced the BBC’s combined offerings (51 million) on certain metrics. Furthermore, research indicates that social media and video networks have overtaken traditional TV and news websites as the leading source of information for many.
The agreement covers both the BBC’s UK-based public service broadcasting wing and international content from BBC Studios.
The move comes as the government evaluates the BBC's future. Last year, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the current licence fee model as "unenforceable," stating that "no options are off the table" as ministers consider new funding schemes for the corporation.
