The BBC will make YouTube‑first programming available with advertising for the first time, opening new opportunities for brands ahead of a major year in sport.
The BBC has agreed a new strategic partnership with YouTube that will see the broadcaster produce YouTube‑first programming and, for the first time, make selected content available with advertising.
The move expands the BBC’s digital distribution strategy and creates new commercial inventory for brands across entertainment, news and children’s programming.
The partnership forms part of the BBC’s ‘value for all’ strategy, designed to reach audiences on the platforms they use most frequently. New YouTube‑first content will launch simultaneously on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
Pedro Pina, vice president EMEA at YouTube, said the collaboration will help bring BBC storytelling to wider audiences.
“This partnership translates the BBC’s world‑class content for a digital‑first audience. Our training programme represents a deep investment in the UK’s creative pipeline.”
Four new areas of YouTube expansion
Under the agreement, the BBC will broaden its YouTube activity across four areas.
- Children and young adults: including new channels such as Deepwatch (working title) and seven new children’s channels featuring content from Operation Ouch, Horrible Histories, Horrible Science and Deadly 60.
- Programme brand extensions: using YouTube to reach audiences who do not regularly engage with BBC services.
- Trusted news formats: including global news channels, real‑time live story streams and new short‑form formats.
- Commercial growth through fandoms: building deeper connections with global fan communities and collaborating with creators and partners.
The BBC said its existing YouTube footprint is already significant, with BBC Studios content generating 15 billion annual views and watch time nearly doubling year-on-year.
A new commercial opportunity
The introduction of ad‑supported BBC content on YouTube creates a new premium environment for advertisers.
With the Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup approaching, the partnership is expected to attract interest from sportsbooks and other brands seeking high‑quality, brand-safe inventory around major cultural moments.
YouTube’s scale among younger audiences – combined with the BBC’s editorial reputation – positions the new channels as a potentially valuable addition to the UK’s digital advertising landscape.
Alongside the content partnership, BBC and YouTube will launch a nationwide creator training programme aligned with the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan. Led by the National Film and
Television School (NFTS), 150 media professionals will take part in workshops and events across BBC hubs in Salford, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Belfast and Cardiff.
Tim Davie, BBC Director‑General, said: “It’s essential that everyone gets value from the BBC. This partnership helps us connect with audiences in new ways, with homegrown content in formats people want on YouTube.”
He added the training programme will “upskill the next generation of YouTube creators from across the UK”.
The programme builds on initiatives such as BBC Studios’ TalentWorks and YouTube’s Launchpad and Accelerator schemes, aiming to support both emerging creators and established TV producers developing digital‑first formats.
