The BBC is set to introduce a paid subscription model for users in the United States, marking the first time the broadcaster charges directly for its news content outside the UK.
This move comes as the organisation faces mounting financial pressures and seeks new revenue streams amid declining licence fee income and rising production costs.
Starting this Thursday, American users will be offered a “premium experience” on BBC.com, granting them unlimited access to articles, livestreams of BBC News, ad-free documentaries, exclusive newsletters, and early access to select podcasts. The subscription will cost \$49.99 annually or \$8.99 monthly, with the package aimed at heavy consumers of BBC content.
Currently, US audiences can access BBC journalism for free through BBC.com, which is operated by BBC Studios and funded through advertising, unlike the licence fee-funded model used in the UK.
The new model represents a strategic shift, with the BBC positioning itself to compete with leading US news platforms such as CNN, soon to launch its own subscription streaming service under former BBC director general Mark Thompson.
Rebecca Glashow, CEO of BBC Global Media and Streaming, emphasized the trust the brand holds globally, “We see the BBC as the world’s most trusted global news brand. We provide incredibly distinctive reporting and have a unique, trusted relationship with audiences.”
The BBC is also using this international expansion to showcase its commercial viability as it enters negotiations for the renewal of its royal charter, which will shape the future of its UK funding model.
The subscription rollout in the US is seen as a natural progression. BBC.com reaches nearly 60 million users in the US and 139 million globally. While the premium option offers expanded features, non-paying users will still have access to key services such as breaking news, selected podcasts, newsletters, and radio livestreams.
Travelling UK licence fee holders will continue to access BBC content abroad via an updated app.
This latest move builds on the BBC’s existing monetisation efforts abroad. It already operates BBC Select via Prime Video and Apple TV, and co-owns the BritBox streaming service for entertainment content.
As global audiences become more willing to pay for high-quality, ad-free journalism, the BBC’s subscription initiative reflects a broader trend in digital media and reinforces its efforts to remain financially sustainable while upholding its editorial standards.
