The BBC is close to a landmark YouTube deal to produce original programmes
The BBC is close to agreeing a landmark partnership with YouTube, marking a significant shift as the public broadcaster looks to reach younger audiences on popular platforms.
Under the proposed arrangement, the BBC will create original programmes, designed specifically for YouTube, with a choice of successful formats that will eventually migrate to its platforms, including BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. The move is intended to ensure the company remains relevant to future generations of license fee payers as viewing habits continue to diverge away from traditional television.
The plans were first reported by the Financial Times and later confirmed in an article on Industry Deadline by a source briefed on the talks. An announcement could come as early as next week. The BBC declined to comment.
Although the BBC has maintained a strong presence on YouTube for more than two decades, it has never previously posted content exclusively on the platform. Its main YouTube channel, with more than 15 million subscribers and nearly 12 billion views, mainly hosts trailers and clips for existing shows such as The Traitors. BBC News has been active on YouTube since 2006 and regularly publishes long-form video content, attracting an audience of around 19 million subscribers.
Details of how any of YouTube’s startups will be funded are still unclear. The BBC has no ads in the UK, but the Financial Times reported that the broadcaster could monetize YouTube-only content worldwide, creating another source of sales revenue to supplement licensing fees.
The move will follow similar tests elsewhere in the industry. Channel 4 already releases original documentaries and digital drama mainly on YouTube, using the platform as a testing ground for new formats and audiences.
However, this proposition is not without internal doubt. Some within the BBC question whether YouTube originals can deliver a meaningful financial return, suggesting that the main motivation is to reach an audience rather than make money.
Time is remarkable. Earlier this week, Deadline revealed that YouTube had overtaken the BBC in one key viewership metric for the first time. According to figures from ratings agency BARB, YouTube reached 51.9 million UK viewers in December, compared to the BBC’s 50.8 million. While the BBC is still ahead in some ways, the milestone underscores the scale of YouTube’s challenge to traditional broadcasters.
The potential deal also comes amid growing political scrutiny over YouTube’s influence. In a keynote speech at the Royal Television Society’s Cambridge Convention last autumn, culture secretary Lisa Nandy warned that the government was prepared to step in to ensure that public service content stood out on the platform. YouTube has argued that such a rule would be premature while negotiations with broadcasters are ongoing.
Julianne Althoff, a partner and film and TV attorney at Simkins LLP, said the move reflects a conscious recognition of changing audience behavior. “This agreement demonstrates a strategic acknowledgment of where audiences live and how they consume content, particularly younger demographics, while also opening up new commercial opportunities to increase licensing revenue,” he said.
He added that any deal would need to be carefully planned to protect the BBC’s programming standards and long-term intellectual property. “From a legal perspective, protecting impartiality, accuracy and product integrity will be important, as well as ensuring that the BBC retains control over its public service obligations and rights of exploitation in the future.”
