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The BBC is preparing to produce programmes specifically for YouTube for the first time, according to a report by the Financial Times. The move comes as the British public broadcaster looks for new ways to generate revenue while audiences increasingly shift to online streaming platforms.
Under the plan, the BBC will create tailored content for YouTube, which will later also be available on its own platforms, including BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. Sources cited by the Financial Times said the agreement could be announced as early as next week.
While the BBC declined to comment, Google, YouTube’s parent company, did not respond to requests for comment outside normal business hours.
The BBC is mainly funded by the UK television licence fee, which allows its domestic services to operate without advertisements. However, the YouTube deal would enable the broadcaster to earn advertising revenue from audiences outside the UK, particularly by targeting younger viewers.
The report also noted that a small number of older BBC programmes may be uploaded to YouTube, although new, platform-specific content will be the main focus.
The move reflects YouTube’s growing influence in the UK media landscape. In December, YouTube reached 51.9 million British viewers, slightly more than the BBC’s 50.8 million, according to official audience measurement body Barb.
