The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has recently implemented a paywall for its primary website, BBC.com, targeting users based in the United States. This move introduces a subscription fee for unlimited access to the broadcaster's news content, feature reports, and the BBC News channel livestream. The subscription is priced at $8.99 per month or $49.99 per year. The introduction of this pay model is a response to the declining revenue from the UK television licence fee, which is required for UK residents to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer. The BBC aims to generate additional income from its substantial US audience, which it states reaches 60 million users.
For users in the US who choose not to subscribe, a "dynamic pay model" will be employed. This model assesses user interaction, including how much they read and how long they stay on the site. Casual readers will continue to have free access to "select" breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service radio livestreams, BBC World Service sites, as well as newsletters and podcasts. The subscription is designed to unlock unlimited access for the most engaged users. In the coming months, the subscription is planned to expand to include ad-free documentary series and films (including the full BBC Select documentary catalogue), ad-free and early release podcasts, and exclusive newsletters and content.
The BBC has confirmed that there will be no changes for UK-based audiences. The website uses geolocation to identify users, and UK licence fee payers travelling to the US can continue to access their usual content via the BBC News app, provided they have installed the latest versions from UK app stores before travelling. The BBC has stated it has no current plans to introduce a pay model for the website outside of North America.
For UK consumers interested in accessing BBC television content, the primary platform is BBC iPlayer. This service is entirely free for UK residents and offers all of the BBC’s television channels, including BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, and BBC News, as well as Radio 1. It is available on computers, phones, tablets, smart TVs, and games consoles via the BBC iPlayer app or website. Content is available to watch shortly after broadcast.
Regarding the availability of BBC America, which is a commercially supported cable network in the US, it is possible to watch it without a traditional cable subscription. It is available on several "skinny bundle" streaming services, which offer live broadcasts of cable channels as part of a subscription. These services are often more affordable and flexible than traditional cable, allowing users to pay only for the channels they want. BBC America is currently available on five streaming platforms, and it is accessible on devices such as Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast.