UK public broadcaster the BBC and global platform YouTube have announced a wide-ranging strategic partnership designed to expand the BBC’s digital-first output, grow global audiences and invest in the next generation of UK creators.
A deal, unveiled today, will see new YouTube-first programming commissioned across news, documentaries and children’s content, alongside a major skills and training initiative aimed at creators and producers across the UK. Content will also launch simultaneously on BBC platforms including iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
The partnership forms a key pillar of the BBC’s Value for All strategy, reflecting its push to reach audiences on the platforms they already use, particularly younger viewers who engage less frequently with traditional BBC services.
Under the agreement, the BBC will scale up its YouTube activity across four core areas: building targeted communities for children and young adults; promoting flagship BBC brands to lighter users; delivering trusted news in innovative formats; and driving commercial growth through global fandoms and brand partnerships.
Planned launches include a new factual channel, Deepwatch (working title), showcasing BBC documentaries, alongside seven new children’s channels. These include The Epic Facts channel, drawing on well-known CBBC brands such as Operation Ouch, Horrible Histories, Horrible Science and Deadly 60.
The collaboration will also focus on surfacing “BBC moments” on YouTube – from major national events to cultural touchpoints – with the aim of extending reach beyond the corporation’s owned platforms. The move builds on a robust existing performance for BBC content on YouTube. BBC Studios content attracted 15 billion views globally over the past year, with watch time nearly doubling year on year and engagement continuing to rise across key international markets.
Alongside content investment, the partnership places a heavy emphasis on skills and talent development, aligning with the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan. The BBC and YouTube will combine existing initiatives – including BBC Studios’ TalentWorks and CreatorLab, and YouTube’s Launchpad, Accelerator and Masterclass programmes – into a new, joint training offer.
Led by the National Film and Television School, the programme will support 150 media professionals through workshops, events and a curated training curriculum. Sessions will be hosted both online and at BBC hubs across the UK, with a focus on digital-first commissioning, production and audience growth.
BBC director-general Tim Davie said the partnership marked a step-change in how the broadcaster connects with audiences: “It’s essential that everyone gets value from the BBC, and this groundbreaking partnership will help us connect with audiences in new ways. We’re investing in bold, homegrown content in formats audiences want on YouTube, alongside a training programme to upskill the next generation of creators.”
Pedro Pina, YouTube’s VP for EMEA, described the deal as a significant evolution in digital storytelling: “This partnership translates the BBC’s world-class content for a digital-first audience, ensuring its cultural impact reaches a younger, more global generation. Beyond content, the training programme represents a deep investment in the UK’s creative pipeline and the future of the global creator economy.”
Pictured: BBC hit show Horrible Histories
