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Amidst Trump’s legal threats and a waning Gen Z audience, the BBC is hoping to gain back some much-needed goodwill with a landmark new YouTube deal.
The BBC has struck a deal with YouTube to make brand new content tailored specifically for the digital platform.
It comes after months of turmoil for the BBC. Its editing blunder in November saw US president Donald Trump launch a multi-billion dollar lawsuit, and recent data shows that Gen Z are losing interest in the broadcaster as a source of both entertainment and news.
With its future uncertain, this latest deal is likely a move to gain relevancy and modernise. YouTube, owned by Google, has previously only been used by the BBC to advertise its shows and direct audiences to its own platform, BBC iPlayer.
Now, the broadcaster says it will make content ‘primarily aimed’ at YouTube’s younger Gen Z audience, with new shows being designed for and posted on the platform in full.
This will include a mix of entertainment, news and sport, with the Winter Olympics kicking off the new deal in February. Content available on YouTube may also be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, and adverts will be enabled for viewers outside of the UK to help generate additional revenue.
BBC in Talks to Produce Content for YouTube in Landmark Deal
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The BBC and YouTube’s new partnership will also benefit the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan by investing in the ‘next generation of creators’ in the UK. 150 media professionals will be invited to develop their YouTube skills at workshops and events, all headed by the National Film and Television School.
A big shift toward online spaces from the BBC isn’t surprising.
Just last year, research found that social media is likely the main source of news in the US. Many Gen Z audiences primarily consume short-form content via TikTok and Instagram, and there is a growing resistance toward paying the BBC for a license fee.
In addition, the BBC is struggling to compete with the biggest streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, both of which are able to pour far more cash into their programmes.
The standard for new drama shows or big narrative franchises such as Stranger Things is now very high and the BBC is largely unable to keep up. The flailing popularity of its flagship series Doctor Who is an indicator of how difficult it is to stay ahead in the current climate, for example.
