BBC Introduces Paid Subscriptions in the U.S.

LONDON (Reuters) – The BBC is rolling out paid subscriptions in the United States, it announced on Thursday. This move comes as the publicly-funded broadcaster seeks new revenue streams during funding negotiations with the British government.

In recent years, the BBC has witnessed a decline in the number of individuals paying the licence fee of £174.50 ($239.76) annually, as viewers shift towards online content.

Effective Thursday, frequent visitors to the BBC’s news website in the U.S. will need to pay $49.99 annually or $8.99 monthly for unlimited access to news articles, feature stories, and a 24-hour livestream of news programs.

While services will remain free for British users under its public service remit, its news website operates commercially and reaches 139 million users globally, including nearly 60 million in the U.S.

The new subscription model features an engagement-based system, with casual readers still able to access free content.

Rebecca Glashow, CEO of BBC Global Media & Streaming, stated, “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.”

In November, the British government announced it would review the BBC’s Royal Charter, which outlines the broadcaster’s terms and funding model, to ensure a sustainable and fair system beyond 2027. To provide financial certainty until then, the government committed to maintaining the licence in its current form and to adjusting the fee according to inflation.

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BBC rolls out paid subscriptions for US users

BBC Introduces Paid Subscriptions in the U.S.

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BBC rolls out paid subscriptions for US users

BBC Introduces Paid Subscriptions in the U.S.

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