• by Ray Schultz , 7 hours ago

As predicted last week, BBC Studios and BBC News have launched a pay model for U.S. BBC.com visitors.

Users are being offered unlimited access to BBC news, features and the 24/7 livestream of the BBC News channel for $49.99 a year or $8.99 per month in the first phase of the launch. 

BBC.com utilizes a dynamic pay model in which all visitors will be assessed based on how much they read and how long they stay on the site. 

As BBC learns from audience consumption patterns, ad-free documentary series, films and podcasts will be included in the offer, it says.  

“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 US,” says Rebecca Glashow, CEO of BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming. 

Glashow adds, “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.”

The Guardian reported last week that the BBC was mulling a paywall. Facing declining license fee income and streamer competition at home, BBC is looking to the American market to shore up its revenue, the Guardian wrote.