TV LICENCE FOR YOUTUBE?! — The BBC Deal That Could Change Everything

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:21:06 +0000

The BBC has struck a landmark deal to make bespoke shows for YouTube, signalling a historic shift in British broadcasting. Official BARB data now show YouTube reaches more people in the UK than the BBC for the first time. Meanwhile, the corporation is losing over £1bn a year to licence fee evasion as the charge is set to rise again in April. This has reignited debate over whether YouTube could ever be linked to the licence. In this video we explain why the deal happened, what it means for viewers, and what it says about the future of the BBC.