The BBC has announced a landmark partnership with YouTube that will see the public broadcaster produce original, tailor-made content specifically for the global video streaming platform, marking a major shift in its digital strategy.
Under the new deal, the BBC will move beyond using YouTube solely to promote clips and trailers of its existing programmes. Instead, it will create original content designed primarily for YouTube’s digital-native, younger audience, while also making some of the material available on its own platforms, including BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
The partnership allows the BBC to generate additional revenue at a time when its long-term funding model is under review. Programmes viewed outside the UK will carry advertising, although the corporation will continue its ad-free approach for UK audiences.
The new YouTube-focused content will span entertainment, documentaries, children’s programming, news and sport, with coverage of the Winter Olympics in February set to be among the first releases. In a joint statement, the BBC and YouTube said the agreement would showcase “the best homegrown storytelling and news from across the BBC”.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie said the deal would help the corporation connect with audiences in new ways and adapt to changing viewing habits. He described the partnership as “the next level” in the BBC’s digital evolution, combining bold content formats with an unprecedented training programme to support emerging creators across the UK.
Importantly, Davie added, the move would also provide new pathways for audiences to discover BBC services such as iPlayer and Sounds. “We’re building from a strong start and this takes us to the next level, with bold homegrown content in formats audiences want on YouTube and an unprecedented training programme to upskill the next generation of YouTube creators from across the UK. Importantly, this partnership also allows new audiences different routes into BBC services like BBC iPlayer and Sounds,” he said.
While the BBC has not previously produced original series exclusively for YouTube, it already commands a significant presence on the platform. Its main account has more than 15 million subscribers, while BBC News attracts around 19 million. As part of the new strategy, the corporation is expected to expand its YouTube presence to as many as 50 channels.
Beyond content creation, the partnership includes a strong skills and talent development component. In collaboration with the National Film and Television School, 150 media professionals will take part in workshops and events aimed at strengthening YouTube and digital storytelling skills, supporting the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan.
YouTube’s Vice President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Pedro Pina, said the company was delighted to partner with the BBC to “redefine the boundaries of digital storytelling” and ensure the broadcaster’s cultural impact reaches a younger, more global audience. He described the training initiative as a significant investment in the UK’s creative pipeline and the future of the global creator economy.
The announcement comes amid shifting audience habits. Recent data showed that YouTube viewership in the UK has overtaken the BBC’s combined offerings on some metrics, while research in the US indicates social media and video platforms have surpassed traditional television as the main source of news.
The agreement covers both the BBC’s UK public service broadcasting operations and international output from BBC Studios, as the corporation continues to adapt amid uncertainty over the future of the licence fee and wider debates about its funding model.
Melissa Enoch
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