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.

BBC issues statement about Gaza films

20 June 2025

BBC issues statement about Gaza films

BBC statement issued 20 June 2025

BBC News is determined to report all aspects of the conflict in the Middle East impartially and fairly. Over a year ago we commissioned Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, a documentary about the plight of medics in Gaza, from an independent production company, Basement Films.

We paused production of this film in April, having made a decision that we could not broadcast the film while a review into a separate Gaza documentary was ongoing. With both films coming from independent production companies, and both about Gaza, it was right to wait for any relevant findings – and put them into action – before broadcasting the film.

However, we wanted the doctors’ voices to be heard. Our aim was to find a way to air some of the material in our news programmes, in line with our impartiality standards, before the review was published.

For some weeks, the BBC has been working with Basement Films to find a way to tell the stories of these doctors on our platforms.

Yesterday it became apparent that we have reached the end of the road with these discussions. We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC. Impartiality is a core principle of BBC News. It is one of the reasons that we are the world’s most trusted broadcaster.

Therefore, we are transferring ownership of the film material to Basement Films.

Contrary to some reports, since we paused production of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack in April, it has not undergone the BBC’s final pre-broadcast sign-off processes. Any film broadcast will not be a BBC film.

The BBC has produced powerful coverage of this conflict. Alongside breaking news and ongoing analysis, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101. We have also investigated allegations of abuse of Palestinian prisoners and Israel’s attacks on Gaza’s hospitals. Just today we are running a powerful piece of longform journalism that captures the final two weeks inside a Gaza hospital before it was forced to close.

We want to thank the doctors and contributors and we are sorry we could not tell their stories. The BBC will continue to cover events in Gaza impartially.

Threats to BBC News Persian journalists continuing

2 June 2025

Threats to BBC News Persian journalists continuing

The BBC has issued this statement:

There has been a sharp and deeply troubling escalation in the persecution of BBC News Persian journalists in the UK and their families in Iran over recent months. This campaign of intimidation, orchestrated by the Iranian authorities, has intensified in both scale and severity.

BBC News Persian journalists – alongside other Iranian journalists based in the UK and around the world – face serious extraterritorial threats from the Iranian authorities. These threats have consistently extended to their families in Iran, who have been subjected to a sustained campaign of intimidation. However, the BBC is now witnessing a surge of arbitrary interrogations, travel bans, passport confiscations, threats of asset seizures directed at the family members of BBC News Persian journalists – marking a significant and increasingly alarming escalation.

Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, says: “In addition to enduring personal security threats from Iranian state actors operating beyond Iran’s borders, BBC News Persian journalists are now witnessing a disturbing rise in the persecution of their family members inside Iran. These acts are clearly designed to exploit family ties as a means of coercion – pressuring our journalists to abandon their work or return to Iran under false pretences.

“We call on the Iranian authorities to immediately cease this campaign of intimidation and to stop targeting journalists with violence, threats, and psychological warfare. This persecution is a direct assault on press freedom and human rights. It must end now.”

The BBC is preparing to lodge a new complaint with the UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate-holders, calling on Iran to cease its campaign of persecution of BBC journalists and their families.

BBC D-G says it’s a “catalyst for building trust”; IP switchover by 2030s

15 May 2025

BBC D-G says it’s a “catalyst for building trust”; IP switchover by 2030s

In his speech titled “The BBC – A Catalyst for Building Trust,” delivered on May 14, 2025, at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, BBC Director-General Tim Davie outlined the broadcaster’s pivotal role in addressing the UK’s growing “crisis of trust” and detailed plans for transitioning from traditional broadcasting to internet-based delivery

The BBC as a Catalyst for Building Trust

Davie emphasised that trust is foundational to a cohesive and democratic society. He highlighted the BBC’s commitment to being an impartial and reliable source of information amid increasing disinformation and societal polarisation. To reinforce this role, the BBC plans to expand its fact-checking service, BBC Verify, and enhance media literacy by providing children with lessons about disinformation. Additionally, the BBC aims to increase scrutiny of local politicians to ensure accountability.

Transitioning to Internet-Based Broadcasting

Looking ahead, Davie proposed a national plan for transitioning from traditional terrestrial and satellite broadcasting to internet-based (IP) delivery in the 2030s. As part of this initiative, the BBC is collaborating with other public service broadcasters—ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5—to develop an internet-connected streaming device. This device is intended to provide free access to live broadcasts and on-demand content, ensuring that audiences, particularly those less familiar with digital technology, can navigate the shift to online services.

Davie acknowledged concerns regarding the affordability and accessibility of this transition, especially for older viewers. He stressed the importance of making the shift inclusive and accessible to all segments of the population.

Read the full speech here.

BBC study on its international role and influence published

12 May 2025

BBC study on its international role and influence published

The BBC has published new research exploring the impact and influence of its work internationally.

The Impact and Influence research demonstrates that, predominantly through the BBC World Service, the BBC is unmatched in driving favourable impressions of the UK.

The BBC is the country’s most recognised cultural export internationally with 76% of influential audiences around the world having heard of BBC News – higher than any other British cultural export including British sports, films and universities.

The research, which was conducted by independent research company Tapestry, also found the BBC to be the most trusted international news provider amongst all audiences and indicates that BBC users around the world are more likely to invest in the UK than non-users. In fact, 73% of BBC users intend to invest in the UK in the future compared with 51% of non-users.

The Impact and Influence research sought the views of audiences around the world on varying international news providers as well as the BBC. It suggests that those audiences consuming the Chinese state broadcaster, CGTN, and Russian state broadcaster RT, have a direct influence on their country’s respective favourability.

The research indicates that 71% of CGTN consumers view China favourably while 58% of RT consumers view Russia favourably, and that over the past three years, China has shown a considerable increase in favourability. The growth in favourability appears across all countries included in the study with the biggest increases in African countries Nigeria and Kenya. Trust in their services has also increased.

As press freedom has been in retreat globally since 2021, over the same period we have seen a rise in the demand for free media with Kenya, Indonesia, India and Mexico seeing the largest increases.

Tim Davie, Director-General, BBC says: “Our international output is unmatched when it comes to delivering impact and influence around the world for democratic values and UK plc. Of course, these results are the byproducts, not the aim, of BBC World Service journalism, but they are remarkable nonetheless, supporting UK security, trade and influence. We stand ready to do more, to make the most of this opportunity, meet an increasing demand and grow our global audience, leveraging the crucial role we play in the UK’s global standing.”

Jonathan Munro, Global Director, BBC News says: “It’s clear from this research that amidst increasing polarisation, huge surges in disinformation and the drastic reduction in press freedom, audiences value the BBC World Service and our trusted news offer. The BBC World Service has a vital role in delivering for audiences globally, particularly in light of the outcomes from China and Russia’s heavy media investment, but we cannot take our position for granted which is why we’re ambitious for what more we can do in this uncertain, unstable global landscape.”

Further findings from the research include:

While a preference for democracy has fallen across multiple countries, the fall is most evident in Asia and the Middle East
BBC users are significantly more likely to believe in democratic values than non-users and are more likely to participate in democratic processes such as voting in an election or contacting an elected official
BBC users associate the UK with values such as free speech and freedom of the press significantly more than non-users
BBC users are more likely to agree that the media in their country should be free to report on anything they want to without restrictions
Accuracy, independence and impartiality are the most important qualities for news users globally but are the least associated with local news providers