The BBC is on the verge of a significant strategic shift, with plans to produce programmes specifically for release first on YouTube. This potential deal, which could be announced as soon as next week, represents a major concession to the digital dominance of the Google-owned platform as the corporation strives to connect with younger audiences.
A Strategic Pivot to Reach the Youth
The proposed move comes after sustained pressure from both politicians and the media regulator, Ofcom, for the BBC to increase its presence on YouTube. The platform has seen explosive growth, becoming a primary destination for watching TV, following content creators, consuming short-form videos, and listening to podcasts.
The core aim is to engage younger viewers, who are the heaviest users of YouTube. Under the proposals, some content would be made for and premiered on the platform before potentially being placed on the BBC's own iPlayer and Sounds services. The BBC could also benefit from advertising revenue attached to these new programmes when viewed outside the UK.
However, public service broadcasters, including the BBC, have been demanding guarantees of greater prominence for their content on YouTube in return for their investment. It remains unclear if such assurances form part of the impending deal, which was first reported by the Financial Times.
Licence Fee Questions and Commercial Tensions
The details are already sparking debate about the fundamental purpose of the licence fee. A key question is whether public money will be used to fund content that viewers can access on YouTube without needing a TV licence.
Any perception that other BBC services are being cut to finance this YouTube venture is likely to attract criticism. Industry expert Stephen Price said the deal highlights the rapid change in media consumption and poses serious questions about the licence fee model.
"Partly, there's a sense of inevitability about this," Price stated. "I wonder what it means for the licence fee, as well. YouTube won't pay a licence fee, obviously, but they'll gain a great deal. So what is the licence fee now for?"
He also pointed to potential friction with commercial rivals: "There are plenty of commercial advertisers around the world who are on YouTube – and now they find the BBC, paid for by the British public, is muscling in."
The YouTube Juggernaut and Internal BBC Debates
The push follows data underscoring YouTube's vast reach. In December, YouTube reached 51.9 million UK viewers who watched content for at least three consecutive minutes across TV and digital devices, surpassing the BBC by over a million.
This growth has been driven by popular creators like the Sidemen, Mr Beast, and Chicken Shop Date. However, the BBC still leads significantly in audience numbers for longer viewing sessions of 15 minutes or more.
Internally, the BBC has debated for months how deeply it should engage with YouTube. Some executives are wary, concerned that audiences may not realise they are watching BBC content on the platform. There are also fears about further entrenching the power of US tech giants over media consumption; YouTube's parent company, Alphabet, generated roughly $36bn (£27bn) in revenue in 2024.
Patricia Hidalgo, the BBC's Director of Children and Education, has advocated for more children's content on YouTube but noted the platform often diverts UK children to US-based material rather than "nourishing" British programming that supports cultural identity.
This trend is prompting media figures to establish their own channels. Recently, BBC presenter Amol Rajan announced his departure from Radio 4's Today programme to start his own content-creator company, reflecting a wider shift in the media landscape.
As Stephen Price concluded, "The accelerator is full on the floor now and the media industry is changing dramatically. It's turned out to be YouTube that has driven change." The BBC and YouTube both declined to comment on the reported plans.
