YouTube partnership is ‘key opportunity’ for the BBC, says media specialist

The BBC’s recently announced partnership with YouTube is a “key opportunity” for the UK pubcaster to build global franchises and generate new international revenue, according to Kim Chua, partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants.

Kim Chua

Chua, a media specialist and former head of strategy at Channel 4, said BBC’s shift in strategy is of particular importance as pressure grows on the its licence fee funding model, but the deal also highlights the growing dominance of tech giants on media consumption habits.

Under the partnership, the BBC will produce bespoke content for YouTube and launch at least 50 new channels on the platform over the next year.

“The pendulum is swinging towards global tech-owned social media and video sharing platforms. YouTube, Meta, TikTok and their algorithms and content discovery rules will determine what an increasing proportion of people watch, read and hear, and therefore influence public opinion and national discourse,” Chua said.

“That is a huge responsibility, and one which YouTube – and its parent Google – seem most able to work with regulators, broadcasters and content creators to manage. I expect them to lead the way, working out how to balance their responsibilities to their audiences as well as multiple industry and government stakeholders.

“We may enter a future where the blunt instruments such as the mooted under-16s social media ban are fine-tuned to distinguish between social platforms which face into their responsibilities – and those which do not.

“This is also a great opportunity for the BBC to point its amazing creative firepower at building new global franchises, generating much-needed new revenue streams from global audiences – critical given the increasing pressure on its licence fees.”

YouTube is under pressure from some parts of the TV industry, particularly those catering to children, to take more responsibility for the content on its platform.

Earlier this week, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said YouTube is working to reduce the spread of ‘AI slop’ on the platform.