In a bid to generate more revenue, the BBC is introducing a new subscription fee in the United States. While the benefits of a subscription are expected to increase over time, subscribers primarily get unlimited access to the BBC’s journalism and storytelling right now.
The new subscription fee is $8.99 a month. For those looking to save on the cost, an annual subscription is priced at $49.99 a year, which works out to less than $1 a month.
In return for the subscription fee, subscribers get unlimited access to the BBC’s news articles, feature stories and the 24/7 livestream of the BBC News channel.
“Over three years ago, we set out on a bold mission: to completely reimagine how we deliver the BBC’s world-class news and factual content to consumers in the U.S.. Our goal? To serve our audiences better than ever before—and unlock new opportunities for growth,” said Rebecca Glashow, CEO BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming.
In the coming months, the BBC plans to enrich the subscriber experience by offering ad-free access to documentary series and films. This is in addition to offering early access to podcasts and access to exclusive newsletters and content.
“Today, the next phase of that vision becomes reality. We’re bringing more of the BBC’s trusted, high-quality content together in one powerful, easy-to-access destination. Over the next few months, as we test and learn more about audience needs and habits, additional long-form factual content will be added to the offer for paying users. This is a major milestone and just the beginning of an exciting new chapter,” added Glashow.
The new subscription fee isn’t a requirement, as a selection of BBC content will remain available for free, including access to select global breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service radio livestreams, BBC World Service Languages sites, and a variety of free newsletters and podcasts.
However, for those that want a more premium experience, the subscription fee offers the option to pay to unlock access to more content.
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