BBC close to landmark deal to produce original shows for YouTube

"The BBC is close to agreeing a landmark partnership with YouTube, signalling a significant strategic shift as the public broadcaster looks to reach younger audiences on the platforms they increasingly favour. Under the proposed arrangement, the BBC would create original, bespoke programmes designed specifically for YouTube, with the option for successful formats to later migrate to its own platforms, including BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds."

"The move is intended to ensure the corporation remains relevant to future generations of licence fee payers as viewing habits continue to fragment away from traditional television. The plans were first reported by the Financial Times and subsequently confirmed to industry title Deadline by a source briefed on the discussions. An announcement could come as early as next week."

"While the BBC has maintained a strong presence on YouTube for more than two decades, it has never previously commissioned content exclusively for the platform. Its main YouTube channel, which has more than 15 million subscribers and almost 12 billion views, largely hosts trailers and clips from existing programmes such as The Traitors. BBC News has been active on YouTube since 2006 and regularly publishes longer-form video content, attracting an audience of around 19 million subscribers."

BBC is poised to form a landmark partnership with YouTube to produce original, bespoke programmes specifically for the platform. Successful formats could later migrate to BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. The initiative aims to reach younger audiences as viewing habits fragment away from traditional television. The plans were first reported by the Financial Times and confirmed to Deadline, and an announcement could come as early as next week; the BBC declined to comment. The BBC already has a strong YouTube presence, with a main channel of over 15 million subscribers and BBC News attracting around 19 million subscribers. Funding details remain unclear, though international monetisation of YouTube-only content has been reported as a possibility. Similar experiments have occurred at Channel 4, and internal scepticism exists within the BBC about the proposal.

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