NRT briefing
BBC News channel launches on YouTube for viewers in UK and US
Based on reporting by BBC News.
The Brief
The BBC News channel has launched a live stream on YouTube for viewers in the UK and US, in a trial that began on Thursday. The move is part of the broadcaster's broader strategy to reach younger and digitally-native audiences, expanding on similar availability in Australia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Poland.
BBC News director of AI, innovation and growth, Anjali Kapoor, said the launch is "an important step in bringing our trusted journalism to even more people," making it easier for audiences to access live coverage of stories "in the places and at the times that work best for them."
The service offers rolling coverage of international and domestic news, including breaking news and developments in politics, business, technology, culture, and sport. UK viewers watching on YouTube may not realize they still need a TV licence to watch the channel live, but there are currently no guardrails requiring proof of payment before accessing the stream, making enforcement difficult.
Last year, regulator Ofcom reported that YouTube had become the UK's second most-watched media service, behind only the BBC, with one in five young viewers going to the platform first on smart TVs. The BBC's expansion on YouTube follows a landmark deal announced earlier this year to create tailor-made content for the service, featuring adverts for non-UK viewers to generate extra funds.