Latest news with #paywall
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BBC website in US launches paid subscription service
The BBC has introduced a paywall for people looking at parts of its website and app from the United States. US-based visitors to will now have to pay $49.99 (£36) a year or $8.99 (£6.50) a month for access to most BBC News stories and features, and to stream the BBC News channel. Those who do not pay will still have ad-supported access to selected global breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, as well as its language services and some newsletters and podcasts. Rebecca Glashow, CEO of BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming, described the move as a "major milestone" that would "unlock new opportunities for growth". There will be no changes for the BBC's UK audiences or for those elsewhere around the world. The corporation hopes the offer will raise money to help fund the BBC's services alongside revenue from UK households through the licence fee, which costs £174.50 a year and accounted for about two-thirds of its total income last year. The BBC has said it expected to have a £492m budget deficit for the latest financial year. The UK government is set to review the corporation's funding model, but the BBC's director general has said switching to a subscription system for UK audiences would not "pass the test of building a universal trusted public service". The BBC's new US pay model follows similar subscription systems used by other publications including the New York Times, and the likes of the Telegraph and the Sun putting selected stories and content behind paywalls in the UK. reaches 139 million visitors globally, including almost 60 million in the US, the corporation said. UK audiences will still be able to access BBC News when travelling to America if they have the latest version of the app. Ms Glashow said the BBC wanted to "reimagine how we deliver" news and factual content to the US. "Our goal? To serve our audiences better than ever before - and unlock new opportunities for growth," she said. "Today, the next phase of that vision becomes reality. We're bringing more of the BBC's trusted, high-quality content together in one powerful, easy-to-access destination." More documentaries, podcasts and newsletters will be added to the subscription offer in the coming months. It comes after the BBC announced it was to block most stations on the BBC Sounds app for audiences outside the UK. BBC Sounds block outside UK delayed BBC licence fee 'unenforceable', says culture secretary
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BBC Introduces News Paywall for U.S. Users
U.S. users of the BBC will have to pay for their news from now on. The U.K. news channel, with BBC Studios, is introducing a paywall model starting at $49.99 per year or $8.99 per month. More from The Hollywood Reporter APOS: Amazon Doubles Down on Dual Streaming Strategy in India with Prime Video and MX Player 'The Shining,' 'A Clockwork Orange,' 'Megalopolis' Costume Designer to Receive Locarno Vision Award Engagement, Monetization, Quality Content and the Impact of AI Take Center Stage at NATPE Budapest Those who subscribe will get unlimited access to the BBC's news articles, feature stories and the 24/7 livestream of the BBC News channel. The broadcaster added on Thursday that this could be extended to ad-free doc series and films, early release podcasts and newsletters in the coming months. The organisation's website reaches 139 million visitors globally, including nearly 60 million in the U.S. alone. Rebecca Glashow, CEO BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming said the goal is to serve U.S. audiences 'better than ever before'. 'Today, the next phase of that vision becomes reality. We're bringing more of the BBC's trusted, high-quality content together in one powerful, easy-to-access destination,' she continued. '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.' In the new move, all users visiting the site from within the U.S. — ascertained by a device's geolocation — will be assessed based on how they interact with BBC content, including how much they read and how long they stay. This approach allows casual readers to 'explore freely, while offering our most engaged users the opportunity to unlock even more,' the BBC also said. 'It's a premium experience designed to keep visitors informed and connected — while directly supporting the future of independent, fact-based reporting.' Visitors who choose not to pay will still have access to select global breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service radio livestreams, BBC World Service Languages sites, and a variety of free newsletters and podcasts. U.K. licence fee payers working or vacationing in the U.S. will still be able to access their usual content via the BBC News app, if they have installed the latest versions before traveling. The site will remain ad-supported. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
BBC launches paywall in US for website and app
The BBC has introduced a paywall for people looking at parts of its website and app from the United visitors to will now have to pay $49.99 (£36) a year or $8.99 (£6.50) a month for access to most BBC News stories and features, and to stream the BBC News who do not pay will still have ad-supported access to selected global breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, as well as its language services and some newsletters and Glashow, CEO of BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming, described the move as a "major milestone" that would "unlock new opportunities for growth". There will be no changes for the BBC's UK audiences or for those elsewhere around the corporation hopes the offer will raise money to help fund the BBC's services alongside revenue from UK households through the licence fee, which costs £174.50 a year and accounted for about two-thirds of its total income last BBC has said it expected to have a £492m budget deficit for the latest financial UK government is set to review the corporation's funding model, but the BBC's director general has said switching to a subscription system for UK audiences would not "pass the test of building a universal trusted public service".The BBC's new US pay model follows similar subscription systems used by other publications including the New York Times, and the likes of the Telegraph and the Sun putting selected stories and content behind paywalls in the reaches 139 million visitors globally, including almost 60 million in the US, the corporation audiences will still be able to access BBC News when travelling to America if they have the latest version of the app. Ms Glashow said the BBC wanted to "reimagine how we deliver" news and factual content to the US."Our goal? To serve our audiences better than ever before - and unlock new opportunities for growth," she said."Today, the next phase of that vision becomes reality. We're bringing more of the BBC's trusted, high-quality content together in one powerful, easy-to-access destination."More documentaries, podcasts and newsletters will be added to the subscription offer in the coming comes after the BBC announced it was to block most stations on the BBC Sounds app for audiences outside the UK.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
BBC to charge Americans for news as Britons ditch licence fee
The BBC is to start charging US-based users for access to news and live TV amid a decline in Britons paying the licence fee. The broadcaster unveiled details of the paywall on Thursday, which will see American households charged $8.99 (£6.55) a month for a 'premium service'. An annual subscription will be priced at $49.99. The package will grant users unlimited access to news and feature articles, while a livestream of the BBC News channel will also be available. Ad-free documentary series and films will be included in the subscription, which will be launched on Thursday. It is the first time that users outside the UK will have to pay for the BBC's news coverage, although bosses said there were no plans to introduce a similar model outside the US. The introduction of a paid-for subscription service comes as the BBC seeks alternative sources of revenue to counter a growing number of people not paying the licence fee. The number of UK households paying the fee dropped by roughly 500,000 last year. BBC executives are targeting the US as they believe it represents a major commercial opportunity for the broadcaster, largely owing to the country's lack of impartial news coverage. American appeal The BBC has become increasingly popular across the Atlantic in recent years. In 2020, a Reuters survey found it to be more trusted by American audiences than large US domestic media brands such as CBS and The New York Times. Its website alone reaches 60m Americans, which is almost half of its 139m global visitors. However, the BBC's global expansion efforts have been hampered by the rise of streaming services such as Netflix. This has been compounded by dwindling income from the licence fee, which fell by 30pc in real terms between 2010 and 2020. Tim Davie, the BBC's director-general, has called for the licence fee, which costs £174.50 per year, to be raised to stem what he called a decade of 'grinding cuts'. He said earlier this month: 'I do want universal funding and I want proper investment and not begrudging, grinding cuts to the BBC, which you've had in the last 10 years, which have just not helped.' Americans who choose not to pay for the service will still be able to access a selection of news stories and will be able to listen to BBC radio stations and podcasts. It comes ahead of talks over the renewal of the BBC's Royal Charter, which is likely to determine how the broadcaster is funded. Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, has previously said the licence fee was 'unenforceable' and ruled out funding the BBC through regular taxes, saying she would like to 'support a BBC that is empowered to continue to deliver a vital public service, funded in a sustainable way'. Following the paywall's announcement, Rebecca Glashow, the chief executive of BBC Studios' global media and streaming, said: 'Over three years ago, we set out on a bold mission: to completely reimagine how we deliver the BBC's world-class news and factual content to consumers in the US. '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.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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 in the U.S. U.S users of 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. More from Variety BBC Studios Asia, Studio JanChi Team for '12 Seas' Korean Food Series 'Doctor Who' Showrunner Says 'We Don't Know What's Happening Yet' Amid Uncertain Future, but Insists Series 'Will Never End' BBC Confirms Appointment of Kate Phillips as New Content Chief 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 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 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. 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.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
