BBC announces subscription service for USA

26 June 2025

BBC announces subscription service for USA

BBC Studios and BBC News has launched the first phase of a pay model for BBC.com visitors in the U.S., offering its most loyal users a premium experience and a new way to enjoy even more of the BBC’s acclaimed journalism and storytelling.

In the initial phase of the launch, for less than $1 a week ($49.99/year) or $8.99/month, users who join will get unlimited access to the BBC’s news articles, feature stories and the 24/7 livestream of the BBC News channel. In the coming months as we test and learn from audience consumption, ad-free documentary series and films (including the full BBC Select documentary catalogue), ad-free and early release podcasts, and exclusive newsletters and content will be included in the offer. This pay model launch supports BBC Studios’ ongoing effort to grow international commercial revenue that helps fund the BBC’s journalism and storytelling and delivers greater value for the licence fee.

Following a period of significant investment in technology and journalism, BBC.com relaunched last year and has seen double-digit year-on-year growth. Today, BBC.com reaches 139 million visitors globally, including nearly 60 million in the U.S. alone.

Rebecca Glashow, CEO BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming said: “Over three years ago, we set out on a bold mission: to completely reimagine how we deliver the BBC’s world-class news and factual content to consumers in the U.S.. Our goal? To serve our audiences better than ever before—and unlock new opportunities for growth. Today, the next phase of that vision becomes reality. We’re bringing more of the BBC’s trusted, high-quality content together in one powerful, easy-to-access destination. Over the next few months, as we test and learn more about audience needs and habits, additional long-form factual content will be added to the offer for paying users. This is a major milestone and just the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”

Deborah Turness, CEO, BBC News said: “Through our partnership with BBC Studios we are growing our audiences in North America – providing more people with news they can trust at a time of dramatic global uncertainty.”

BBC.com is employing a dynamic pay model—an intelligent, engagement-based pay model trusted by leading news publishers globally. All users visiting the site from within the U.S. will be assessed based on how they interact with our content, including how much they read and how long they stay.

This approach allows casual readers to explore freely, while offering our most engaged users the opportunity to unlock even more. By opting to pay, readers gain unlimited access to all the site’s content. It’s a premium experience designed to keep visitors informed and connected—while directly supporting the future of independent, fact-based reporting.

Visitors who choose not to pay will still have access to select global breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service radio livestreams, BBC World Service Languages sites, and a variety of free newsletters and podcasts.

The site will remain ad-supported, providing global brand partners with continued opportunities to connect with the BBC.com audience in impactful and meaningful ways.

The website, which is commercially funded and operates separately from other BBC platforms in the UK, identifies users based on their device’s geolocation, an industry standard practice to ensure compliance with the laws and content rights restrictions in each country. UK Licence Fee payers travelling to the U.S. for holiday or work can access their usual content via the BBC News app, as long as they’ve downloaded the latest versions from the UK app stores before travelling.

There will be no change to the services that people in the UK will receive and have access to. All the content that’s available on BBC.com is also available to UK audiences through the BBC’s various channels and services. There are no current plans to introduce a pay model outside of North America.

About BBC Studios

The main commercial arm of BBC Commercial Ltd, BBC Studios generated revenues in the last year of £1.8 billion and a third consecutive year of profits of over £200 million. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Media & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services including bbc.com and Britbox International and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. The business made more than 2,800 hours of award-winning British programmes last year for a wide selection of public service and commercial broadcasters and platforms, both in the UK and across the globe. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, and includes world-famous brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who.

France 24 expands in Southern Africa on NBC Plus

26 June 2025

France 24 expands in Southern Africa on NBC Plus

France 24’s English-language channel is now available for streaming on nbc Plus, the digital platform developed by Namibia’s national broadcaster, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). This strategic partnership marks a significant step in France 24’s efforts to strengthen its presence in Southern Africa by integrating into a rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.

Launched in 2018, nbc Plus offers a hybrid service that combines live television channels with video-on-demand content (VOD), currently available on Android devices. The platform’s reach extends well beyond Namibia, with a growing audience amongst the Namibian diaspora in the UK, the US, Canada, and Germany.

The arrival of France 24 in English enhances nbc Plus’ international content offering, whilst aligning with the platform’s ambitions for continued growth. nbc Plus strives to deliver an optimised viewing experience, featuring a redesigned interface, high-definition streaming, intuitive navigation, and an expanding catalogue of both local and international programming.

France 24 is already broadcast to 574.1 million households globally, including 69.8 million in Africa (2024 average).

Finland becomes co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition

23 June 2025

Finland becomes co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition

Finland has been announced as the new co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, a global partnership of 51 countries working together to promote press freedom at home and abroad.

Finland begins its two-year term as co-chair alongside Germany, which became co-chair in January 2024.

Finland succeeds Estonia, which has been MFC co-chair since July 2023. Finland will officially take over the co-chair role on 1^st July 2025.

Promoting freedom of the press is a priority for the Finnish Government, which ranks 5^th on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index. In Finland’s view, media freedom is a key pillar of a democratic society and has an important role in contributing to comprehensive security. Issues related to media freedom are also high on the agenda of Finland’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE in 2025.

Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, formally accepted the co-chairship from her Estonian counterpart, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 23^rd June 2025.

Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany Johann Wadephul was also present for the handover.

Minister Valtonen said: “Our co-chairmanship will focus on protecting journalists and improving media literacy and on broader issues related to global freedom of speech. It is a pleasure to work with Germany on these important themes.”

Minister Tsahkna said: “It has been a great honour for Estonia to co-chair the Media Freedom Coalition from July 2023 until June 2025. I wish to sincerely thank the Netherlands and Germany for the excellent cooperation during our joint chairmanships. The need to protect media freedom has never been more urgent, and we have been fighting globally for free and independent media both online and offline. Together with MFC member States and other important stakeholders, we have stood up for journalists at risk and defended the right to free and independent media globally. I warmly welcome Finland, a country with a strong record on media freedom, as a new co-chair of the Coalition. I am confident they will continue this vital work with determination and vision.”

Minister Wadephul said: “Protecting media freedom is protecting freedom itself. Without a free press, societies cannot be free. Thank you very much, Estonia, for being an outstanding partner and Co-Chair in the global fight for media freedom. Today more than ever, we need independent and courageous journalists that can report the facts to the world unimpededly and that can speak truth to power relentlessly. That is why we are very much looking forward to spearheading the work of the Media Freedom Coalition together with incoming Co-Chair and esteemed partner Finland.”

The Media Freedom Coalition was established in 2019 by co-founders the UK and Canada, and has since grown to 51 member countries from six continents. Member countries work together on a range of activities to protect media freedom around the world, such as diplomacy to support journalists at risk, the provision of emergency visas to journalists fleeing their country, and reforming laws to better protect journalists and media workers.

The Coalition’s latest annual report highlighted that the MFC has acted on 22 cases of journalists at risk during 2024, while embassies of MFC members had spoken out on a further 15 cases. The report also highlighted 123 actions by MFC member embassies around the world, such as visiting imprisoned journalists, providing funding, and organising events.

To do its work, the Coalition works closely with a group of the world’s leading press freedom and media support organisations (the Consultative Network – the AIB is a member of the CN), a group of leading lawyers and judges from around the world (the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom), and international organisations including UNESCO.

Image: Minister Tsahkna (left), Minister Wadephul (centre) and Minister Valtonen (right) during the co-chairship handover

Ukrainian RFE/RL Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko Released from Custody in Occupied Crimea

23 June 2025

Ukrainian RFE/RL Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko Released from Custody in Occupied Crimea

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) welcomes Vladyslav’s release and thanks the U.S. and Ukrainian governments for efforts to bring him home.

Ukrainian Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko has been released from Russian custody in occupied Crimea.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said: “For more than four years, Vlad was arbitrarily punished for a crime he did not commit. He paid too high of a price for reporting the truth about what was taking place inside Russia-occupied Crimea. For that, he was tortured, physically and psychologically. While we celebrate his joyous reunion with his wife Kateryna, and their young daughter Stefania, we cannot overlook this family’s pain at the hands of Russian authorities.

“RFE/RL extends its deepest gratitude to the U.S. and Ukrainian governments for working with us to ensure that Vlad’s unjust detention was not prolonged. We also thank the global press freedom community for their tireless advocacy on behalf of RFE/RL’s dedicated journalists.”

This follows the releases of former RFE/RL journalist Ihar Karnei on June 21 and RFE/RL journalist Andrei Kuznechyk in February from unjust detention in Belarus thanks to the significant efforts of the Trump administration.

AIB members gain instant access to 10,000+ freelance journalists

20 June 2025

AIB members gain instant access to 10,000+ freelance journalists

Over the past few months, the AIB Secretariat has been working with Paydesk, a global network of more than 10,000 freelancers – from audio and video reporters to producers and fixers – and comprehensive workflow management software platform. Paydesk simplifies the process of finding, booking, hiring, paying and insuring freelances. Paydesk is used by major news organisations such as Euronews, RTE, CBS, The Sunday Times and The Sun to contract freelancers in territories around the world to deliver quality news reporting and related services.

Paydesk is a one-stop shop to hire freelancers in areas where news organisations may not have their own reporters, or where it is too costly to deploy crews at short notice.

Importantly, Paydesk provides insurance cover for the freelancers when carrying out jobs contracted through the platform, helping to provide a level of security for the freelancer and their family if something untoward occurs during the assignment.

AIB members are now able to take advantage of a Paydesk account “seat” for their newsroom and gain immediate access to the international freelance pool that is on Paydesk’s books. There is no charge for this seat to AIB member companies.

“This is an important new benefit for our members,” says AIB Chief Executive Simon Spanswick. “As budgets shrink but demand for news coverage increases, AIB members gain a real advantage through access to a global network of freelancers, while back office administration for bookings is greatly simplified.”

To discuss how your company can benefit from this new initiative, and from all the other services that the AIB provides, contact the Secretariat.

RFE/RL Journalist Farid Mehralizada Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison in Azerbaijan

20 June 2025

RFE/RL Journalist Farid Mehralizada Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison in Azerbaijan

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) called the case against Farid a “sham.”

An Azerbaijani court convicted and sentenced Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist and economist Farid Mehralizada to nine years in prison on spurious charges on 20 June 2025.

In a speech before the court, Farid defended his innocence and the importance of a free press in Azerbaijan:

“Independent media is one of the greatest means of service to the state, the nation, and humanity. Unfortunately, journalism in our country today is almost equated with terrorism.”

Farid has been detained since May 30, 2024, when he was violently abducted in Baku by unidentified men and taken to a police station. He was initially charged with “conspiring to smuggle foreign currency” in connection with a case authorities brought against the independent media outlet Abzas Media, for which Farid never worked. On August 19, 2024, authorities invented new charges against him.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said: “Farid has already lost a great deal. Unjustifiably detained for more than a year, he missed the birth of his child, and now waits for elusive justice. Denying this man his fundamental rights is unnecessarily cruel. Instead of perpetuating this sham, it’s time to reunite Farid with his family.”

Increasing restrictions on journalists in Azerbaijan have put significant pressure on RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service. Its Baku bureau was forced to shut down in 2014 and its website was blocked in 2017. Azerbaijani Service journalists have been the targets of intimidation campaigns and physical violence.