BBC Group Enters Strategic Partnership with YouTube

BBC Group and YouTube have entered a new strategic partnership focused on investments in new programming, collaborating to showcase more BBC moments on YouTube and launching creator skills and training programs.

The BBC will expand its YouTube activities, with a focus on four key areas: building targeted communities for U.K. children and young adults, promoting key BBC program brands, delivering trusted news and driving commercial growth through global fandoms.

The new partnership builds on the BBC’s strong digital performance and popular third-party channels. The approach is already delivering at scale, with BBC data showing there were 15 billion annual YouTube views of BBC Studios content, with watch time nearly doubling year-on-year.

The partnership will see the BBC and YouTube support the U.K. government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, building on the success of BBC Studios’ TalentWorks and BBC Creator Lab and YouTube’s Launchpad, Accelerators and Masterclass series.

Led by the National Film and Television School (NFTS), 150 media professionals will be invited to develop their YouTube skills with a series of workshops and events. A specially curated training program will be hosted online and at BBC hubs in Salford, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Belfast and Cardiff.

“It’s essential that everyone gets value from the BBC, and this groundbreaking partnership will help us connect with audiences in new ways,” said Tim Davie, Director-General of BBC. “We’re building from a strong start and this takes us to the next level, with bold homegrown content in formats audiences want on YouTube and an unprecedented training program to upskill the next generation of YouTube creators from across the U.K. Importantly, this partnership also allows new audiences different routes into BBC services like BBC iPlayer and Sounds.”

Pedro Pina, VP of EMEA at YouTube, added, “We are delighted to partner with the BBC to redefine the boundaries of digital storytelling. This partnership translates the BBC’s world-class content for a digital-first audience, ensuring its cultural impact reaches a younger, more global audience. Beyond the content, our first-of-its-kind training program represents a deep investment in the U.K.’s creative pipeline designed to empower the next generation of British talent to lead the global creator economy. In doing so, we are not just telling the stories of today; we are building the stage for the storytellers of tomorrow.”