The BBC has announced a new partnership with YouTube, which will see the broadcaster create original programming designed specifically for YouTube. The move marks a major shift in strategy, as the BBC has historically used YouTube primarily to host clips and trailers that sent viewers to its services.
Under the new agreement , YouTube will be the primary destination for select programs.
One practical outcome of the partnership will be monetisation. BBC content on YouTube will remain ad-free for UK viewers, but will be ad-supported for international audiences. This will create an additional revenue stream at a time when the BBC’s funding model and licensing fee arrangements are still under scrutiny.
The agreement covers UK public service production as well as international content to be produced by BBC Studios.
The program is expected to cover many genres, including entertainment, documentaries, children's content, news and sports. Coverage related to the Winter Olympics is among the first projects currently being planned.
The BBC says the aim is to reach a younger, digitally-oriented audience, who are increasingly consuming video through social platforms instead of traditional television channels.
The move comes as viewership data continues to show that YouTube is comfortably competing with traditional broadcasters.
Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.
