“The BBC will start producing original content for Google’s YouTube under a landmark deal unveiled with the Alphabet-owned video powerhouse, which has disrupted traditional TV and increasingly positioned itself as a partner for TV networks. The news comes as the British broadcaster continues to look for ways to reach younger audiences in the digital age.”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
The news comes as the British broadcaster continues to look for ways to reach younger audiences in the digital age. The initial focus of the partnership is set to be on the younger audiences of the BBC Three channel, covering entertainment and news and sports content.
The BBC shows for YouTube are expected to later become available on the UK public broadcaster’s iPlayer streaming platform and its BBC Sounds audio service.
So far, the BBC has not produced original series for YouTube, but its flagship account on the streaming platform has more than 15 million subscribers, who get to watch trailers and clips from its shows. In addition, the BBC News YouTube channel has around 19 million subscribers.
Since the BBC does not feature advertising in the UK, YouTube originals would allow it to monetize these shows abroad at a time when the public broadcaster has been looking to boost income from its license fee, which taxpayers in Britain pay for.
Juliane Althoff, film and TV lawyer and partner at media and entertainment law firm Simkins LLP, said: “This deal marks a strategic acknowledgment of where audiences now sit and how they consume content – especially younger demographics – and reflects the need to increase commercial opportunities to supplement the license fee. By commissioning platform content for YouTube while retaining a right to exploit on the iPlayer and BBC Sounds platforms, the BBC is able to extend its audience reach whilst protecting its public service obligations and long-term commercial rights.”
She added: “From a legal perspective, the BBC’s move raises important questions around editorial control and brand integrity. Any agreement between the BBC and YouTube will need to be carefully structured to ensure strict impartiality and accuracy in a way that prevents any accusation of bias or misinformation and to safeguard the BBC’s public services obligations and long-term IP value.”
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