BBC Throws Up Website Paywall for U.S. Users
Online news and programming from the U.K.'s biggest broadcaster will carry a price for some American fans. BBC Studios and BBC News have launched the 'first phase' of a pay model for BBC.com in the U.S.
U.S users of BBC.com who choose not to pay will still have access to 'select global breaking news stories,' as well as BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service radio livestreams, BBC World Service Languages sites, and a variety of free newsletters and podcasts, the BBC said.
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In the initial phase of the BBC's paywall launch, the subscription will cost $8.99 per month or $49.99 per year. U.S. users who sign for a subscription 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,' the BBC said, 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.
For those in the U.K., that will be no change to the services. All the content that is available on BBC.com is also available to U.K. audiences through the BBC's various channels and services. The BBC also has no current plans to introduce a pay model for the website outside of North America.
Several major U.S.-based news outlets also have paywalls, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. CNN installed a paywall last fall for its website, with heavier users prompted to pay $3.99 per month for access.
In the U.S., the BBC is employing a 'dynamic' pay model to gauge access to BBC.com. Using this method, 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.' According to the BBC, this approach 'allows casual readers to explore freely, while offering our most engaged users the opportunity to unlock even more' by option to pay a subscription fee.
The site identifies users based on their device's geolocation. U.K. Licence Fee payers travelling to the U.S. for holiday or work can access their usual content via the BBC News app, if they have downloaded the latest versions from the U.K. app stores before travelling.
BBC.com is commercially funded and operates separately from other BBC platforms in the U.K. According to the company, the U.S. pay model launch supports BBC Studios' 'ongoing effort to grow international commercial revenue that helps fund BBC's journalism and storytelling and delivers greater value for the license fee.'
'We're bringing more of the BBC's trusted, high-quality content together in one powerful, easy-to-access destination,' Rebecca Glashow, CEO of BBC Studios Global Media and Streaming, said in a statement. '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.'
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