The BBC is launching paid subscriptions in the United States, it announced Thursday, as the publicly funded broadcaster seeks new revenue streams amid negotiations with the British government over its funding.
In recent years, the BBC has seen a decline in the number of people paying its licence fee, which amounts to £174.50 ($239.76) per year across all households that watch live TV, as viewers have shifted to more online content.
New subscriptions for US users
Starting Thursday, frequent US visitors to the BBC News website will have to pay an annual subscription of $49.99 or a monthly subscription of $8.99 for unlimited access to news articles, special stories, and 24-hour live streaming of its news programs.
Free services within Britain
While its services will remain free to users within the UK as part of its commitment to public service, its news website operates on a commercial basis and reaches 139 million users worldwide, including approximately 60 million users within the United States.
The authority said in a statement that the new model uses an engagement-based system, allowing regular readers to access free content.
Rebecca Glashow, BBC Chief Executive of Global Media and Digital, said: “Over the coming months, as we test and learn more about audience needs and habits, long-form factual content will be added to the offerings offered to subscribers.”
Reviewing the Authority's financing model
The British government said last November that it would review the BBC's Royal Charter, which sets out the corporation's terms and funding model, with the aim of ensuring a sustainable and fair system after 2027.
To provide the Authority with financial certainty until then, the government has announced its commitment to maintaining the licensing fees as they are, and to increasing them in line with the rate of inflation.