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BBC Set to Strike Content Deal With YouTube, FT Reports

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The BBC is planning to produce programmes specifically for YouTube for the first time, as the British public broadcaster looks to diversify revenue streams amid a shift in viewing habits toward online platforms, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

According to the report, the BBC will create tailored shows designed initially for YouTube audiences, which would later also be made available on the broadcaster’s own platforms, including BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. The deal could be announced as early as next week, the FT said, citing sources familiar with the plans.

The BBC declined to comment on the report, while Google, which owns YouTube, did not respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

The BBC is primarily funded through a licence fee paid by UK households that watch television, allowing its domestic services to remain free of advertising. However, the FT said the YouTube partnership would focus on younger audiences and enable the BBC to generate additional income by running advertisements on content viewed outside Britain.

A limited number of older BBC series may also be made available on YouTube, though this is not expected to be the core of the agreement, the report added.

The move comes as YouTube’s reach in the UK continues to grow. In December, YouTube attracted 51.9 million British viewers, narrowly overtaking the BBC’s 50.8 million, according to Barb Audiences, the UK’s official body for measuring television and video consumption.

Separately, the BBC remains embroiled in legal controversy in the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump is suing the broadcaster for at least $10 billion over the editing of clips from a speech that appeared to suggest he directed supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The BBC has apologised for the edit, which led to the resignations of its two most senior executives, but has said it will contest the lawsuit and seek its dismissal.

BBC Threatens Legal Action Against AI Startup Perplexity Over Content Scraping, FT Reports

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The BBC has threatened to take legal action against AI startup Perplexity, accusing the company of using BBC content to train its “default AI model,” according to the Financial Times report on Friday. This marks the British broadcaster as the latest news organization to allege content scraping by the AI firm.

The BBC may seek an injunction unless Perplexity stops scraping its content, deletes any existing copies used for AI training, and submits “a proposal for financial compensation” to address the alleged misuse of its intellectual property, the FT said, citing a letter sent to Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas.

The broadcaster confirmed the report in a statement to Reuters.

Perplexity has faced similar accusations from other media outlets including Forbes and Wired for plagiarizing their content. In response, the startup has launched a revenue-sharing program aimed at addressing publishers’ concerns.

In October last year, the New York Times sent Perplexity a “cease and desist” letter demanding the company stop using its content for generative AI.

Since the rise of ChatGPT, publishers have expressed concerns about AI chatbots combing the internet to extract information and generate summarized content for users.

According to the FT report, the BBC said parts of its content were reproduced verbatim by Perplexity, and links to the BBC website have appeared in the AI startup’s search results.

Perplexity described the BBC’s claims as “manipulative and opportunistic,” stating that the broadcaster has “a fundamental misunderstanding of technology, the internet and intellectual property law,” in a statement to Reuters.

Perplexity’s service provides information by searching the internet, similar to ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. The startup is backed by notable investors including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, AI leader Nvidia, and Japan’s SoftBank Group.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Perplexity is in advanced talks to raise $500 million in a funding round that would value the company at $14 billion.

Legendary French Actor Alain Delon Dies at 88, Leaving Behind a Controversial Legacy

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Alain Delon, a legendary French actor whose striking looks and enigmatic performances captivated audiences worldwide, passed away at the age of 88, as announced by his three children. Delon, who had been in declining health since suffering a stroke in 2019, died at his estate in Douchy, France. President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Delon, calling him a “giant of French culture” and noting that the actor’s “unforgettable face” left an indelible mark on cinema.

Delon rose to fame in the 1960s with iconic roles in films like Luchino Visconti’s Rocco and His Brothers and The Leopard. His portrayal of complex characters—ranging from hitmen to troubled romantics—cemented his status as one of France’s most celebrated actors. Among his most notable works was Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samouraï, where Delon played a stoic contract killer, a role that became synonymous with his on-screen persona.

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Despite his success in Europe and Japan, Delon never achieved the same level of fame in Hollywood, though he did share the screen with American stars like Burt Lancaster in Scorpio. His collaborations with fellow French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo, especially in films like Borsalino, further solidified his reputation in French cinema.

Delon’s personal life, however, was as dramatic as his film roles. Born in 1935 near Paris, he had a tumultuous childhood, marked by his parents’ divorce and his time in foster care. His rebellious nature led him to join the French Marines, where he continued to find trouble. His early experiences in Paris’s bohemian and criminal underworld later colored both his acting and personal associations, leading to long-lasting connections with notorious figures.

In the 1970s, Delon found himself embroiled in the “Markovic Affair,” a scandal involving the murder of his former bodyguard, Stefan Markovic. Although Delon was cleared of any involvement, the incident highlighted his ties to the underworld, casting a shadow over his public image.

Delon’s outspoken views often sparked controversy, particularly his support for the death penalty and his opposition to gay marriage. He was also known for his connections to the far-right National Front in France, further polarizing public opinion about him.

In his later years, Delon became increasingly disillusioned with modern life, expressing a desire for solitude. He spent his final years under legal protection due to health concerns, and a family feud over his care made headlines in French media. His last major public appearance was in 2019, when he received an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Delon’s death marks the end of an era in French cinema, leaving behind a legacy as one of the country’s most iconic yet controversial figures. As his fans and critics alike reflect on his life and work, Alain Delon remains a symbol of the complex interplay between talent, fame, and infamy.