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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.

iHeartMedia Shares Surge to Two-Year High on Report of Netflix Licensing Talks

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Shares of iHeartMedia jumped 22% on Tuesday to their highest level in more than two years after a Bloomberg report revealed that Netflix is in talks to license video podcasts from the U.S. radio and podcasting giant. The rally marks iHeart’s best trading day in months, signaling renewed investor optimism about the company’s growth prospects.

According to the report, Netflix aims to secure exclusive rights to select iHeart video podcasts, potentially removing them from YouTube and intensifying competition among streaming platforms. A partnership could bring iHeart’s top shows to a global audience and create new opportunities for advertisers and podcast creators as the industry evolves toward more visual formats.

Analysts said the talks reflect a broader shift in the media landscape, where audio platforms are increasingly embracing video-driven engagement to boost viewer retention. A study by Zebracat earlier this year found that average engagement with video podcasts was 2.7 times higher than with audio-only versions on mobile devices.

The potential deal mirrors Netflix’s recent move with Spotify, which announced last month that its most popular video podcasts would appear on Netflix from early 2026. If finalized, the iHeart collaboration could establish the streaming giant as a major player in video podcasting and mark a significant milestone in iHeartMedia’s post-pandemic turnaround.

YouTube to Tighten Age Limits on Graphic Gaming Content and Live Streams

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YouTube is introducing significant updates to its content moderation policies, with a particular focus on violent gaming videos and livestreams. Starting November 17, the platform will begin enforcing stricter age restrictions on video game footage that includes scenes of “graphic violence.” Under the new rules, viewers under 18 — as well as those not logged into their accounts — will be unable to access videos or streams that meet the threshold for excessive violence. The platform says this decision reflects its ongoing efforts to create a safer environment for younger audiences while maintaining creative freedom for content creators.

According to YouTube, the updated guidelines will evaluate violent gaming content using a more nuanced system. The review process will consider multiple factors, including the level of realism in violent scenes, how prominently the violence is featured, and the overall duration of such moments. This means that brief, stylized depictions of combat may still be accessible to general audiences, while realistic or prolonged scenes of gore or harm will likely be age-restricted. The company emphasized that creators will be notified about affected videos, and violations will be handled through its standard moderation process.

This policy expansion builds on YouTube’s existing rules regarding violent and graphic content but introduces clearer boundaries specifically for gaming-related videos. The platform has long faced criticism from parents, educators, and advocacy groups for the accessibility of violent gaming material to minors. By tightening restrictions, YouTube aims to strike a balance between protecting younger users and allowing adult audiences to engage with gaming content freely.

Additionally, YouTube is also taking steps to curb the reach of gambling-related gaming videos, which often blur the lines between entertainment and real-money betting. These efforts, combined with the new violence policy, mark one of YouTube’s most comprehensive overhauls of gaming content regulation in recent years. The company hopes that the move will not only enhance user safety but also encourage responsible content creation within the gaming community.