this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2025
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The BBC is launching a paywall in the US (www.niemanlab.org)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by Pro@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world
66 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Time to unfollow them, I guess.

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[–] whatevercomeon@lemmy.world 50 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The UK obviously is no longer a superpower. But the BBC is the cornerstone of the UKs modern global soft power projection. Broadcasting it free projects the UK government’s voice around the world directly into homes, influencing world policy to their liking.

Putting a paywall in the US sends a message that they feel it is not needed or not effective in the US market.

It also mirrors what paid sport broadcasting in the UK has done. Paywall it for short term gain, at the expense of long term viewership growth. The UK is struggling.

[–] raltoid@lemmy.world 15 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Paywall it for short term gain, at the expense of long term viewership growth.

Making a company worse for increased short term revenue, at the cost of customer retention, product quality, etc. causing increased turnover which further compounds all the other steps. Is a common issue among all modern companies.

In short, there was a shift in MBA education a while back that includes a bunch of lies-by-omission and misrepresented data. Meaning that the only thing on their mind when they graduate, is to please investors at any all costs, including company longevity.

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 16 points 6 days ago (1 children)

A bizarre decision.

Every paywalled news site is a news site I don't read.

I mean, nobody likes adverts, but I think even fewer people like paying.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 days ago

I don't like having to have one more login for something, it's more about that then the money even.

[–] otp@sh.itjust.works 22 points 6 days ago (1 children)

As a Canadian, I'd be upset if we got paywalled. The BBC is where I go to for trusted news on international concerns.

Understandable, but I'd still be upset.

[–] Sturgist@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago

Could just VPN into the UK. Proton offers a free, no login required, VPN tier with several end points in the UK

[–] DancingBear@midwest.social 1 points 5 days ago

Can you just use a vpn to listen to the radio? I listen to bbc every morning before work, I will not pay though

[–] axus@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 days ago

Geez, I feel slightly to blame for checking bbc.com a couple times a day and rejecting the cookies

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 62 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Gotta get that TV loicense.

[–] PhobosAnomaly@feddit.uk 22 points 1 week ago

I suppose the TV licence in the UK is a sort of paywall, even if it is made of swiss cheese and enforced by folk with all the legal standing of Larry the Head Mouser or whatever moggy it is now.

I pay it, but I'm loathed to now. Not because I watch any live TV or BBC programming, but because I use the BBC News site a metric fucktonne and I suppose I justify it to myself as funding the BBC News department rather than Graham Norton's salary.

Maybe I'll fuck it off though. I do fancy a letter war with Capita or whoever managed the enforcement these days.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 52 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Given that I'm stateside, this makes me sad. But given that they are funded by UK taxpayers, this is probably the right move.

Of course, that's just one less outlet for USA citizens to get accurate journalism (better than here, anyway) about what's happening in our country. Hope Al Jazeera doesn't follow suit.

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 33 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Although, you could also argue that those taxes pay for informing and influencing citizens of foreign nations.

America’s media ecosystem is dominated by Fox, Sinclair, and other state party media players. There is a strategic benefit to having a media outlet that doesn’t run through the state media filter.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

This is a very important point. There is a reason there is a "cultural victory" in the Civilization games and the UK is definitely ceding cultural influence with this move.

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Or the reason why the US has had Radio Free Europe for decades.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Yeah back in the day we made sure no matter who you were and what was going on you had the opportunity to hear our take on it

Mind you I suppose that still happens thanks to us being a very loud and online people, but having an "America says x" channel in a time where people liked us sure was a good idea

[–] MangoCats@feddit.it 3 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I believe all such programs were defunded a few months ago...

[–] Sturgist@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 days ago

Guess the Tankies are loving Trump for that one.

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Their grants were cut by a Trump EO, and they’re suing to have them reinstated. They’re very much still around.

[–] MangoCats@feddit.it 1 points 5 days ago

Glad they're still there - hope they're not working without pay anytime soon.

[–] MangoCats@feddit.it 2 points 6 days ago

To such an extent that I wonder if there is back-channel influence flowing out of the US pushing for this...

[–] NameTaken@lemmy.world 29 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It seems just for people in the US. So hopefully the rest of us will be fine.

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 23 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

I love the US defaultism even when they’re talking about another country’s public news station

(edit: the title originally just said it was adding a paywall without mention of any country)

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

It does actually seem like it's only the US for now

Unless I've misunderstood your comment

BBC article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2vgkn7w10o

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[–] alexc@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago (4 children)

And just at a time when the US really needs a decent news service…

I am sure this was discussed at the Starmer - Trump talks as a way to further isolate Americans from the truth.

I guess it’s just Al-Jazeera now…

[–] KumaSudosa 2 points 6 days ago

I'm (relatively) happy with Deutsche Welle (dw.com) and France24 as well

[–] FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Decent News Service? The BBC is at best problematic.

[–] alexc@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I am guessing you’ve never watched (say) Fox News in the US?

I’m not saying the BBC is good per se. I’m saying it’s slightly more objective than the rest.

[–] FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

There is news that’s way more well done than BBC, like the intercept, byline times, propublica etc

[–] alexc@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Not arguing that. Of the broadcasters / big media types, I find the BBC usually one of the better ones. But then I get my news from a wide variety of sources. The Intercept is generally a very good addition to my daily intake.

[–] tormeh@discuss.tchncs.de 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Exactly this. Isn't the point of the BBC world service to communicate/propagandise the British view of what's happening in the world to other countries? Imagine Russia Today adding a paywall? It's counter to the entire point! I think you may be on to something about this being a concession to Trump.

[–] alexc@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Actually, the World Service will remain accessible, but that’s also not where most people go these days.

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[–] Humanius@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So that sounds to me that Americans should use a VPN to pretend they are accessing the website from Europe

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 6 points 6 days ago

Seems like a high bar for checking the news. I'll just switch to a different news outlet.

Shame to further isolate the US towards the largely crappy intranational journalism options.

[–] obinice@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Makes sense, we pay our licence fee for our public service, why should people abroad get for free what we have to pay for?

I was happy with the current arrangement of adverts supporting the service use abroad, but if it has to migrate to a subscription model to meet modern demands then that's the way it is.

I wouldn't go to another country and ask them to make one of their government's national public services free for me to use, after all.

[–] ADTJ@feddit.uk 6 points 6 days ago

BBC shows ads on some foreign services, but not in the UK

[–] crapwittyname@lemm.ee 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Nah mate. Information is free the second it leaves its source. Any attempt to curtail it after then is just a cunt's trick.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I imagine you wouldn't be saying this if it was your work being used.

If you went through the painstaking effort or writing a book or something, I imagine you'd be pretty unhappy if nobody wanted to reimburse you, and you were called a cunt for wanting to be paid for your labour.

[–] crapwittyname@lemm.ee 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I work for a living, so I'm used to my work being exploited as a matter of course.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

That's exactly my point.

Presumably you're paid for the work you do, and you shouldn't have to do it for free, yes?

[–] crapwittyname@lemm.ee 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Yes. But I'm not paid continuously for the work I've done in the past, and I'm not paid the actual value of my work.

Should we still be paying Homer for his incredible work on the Iliad, do you think?

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 25 points 1 week ago

The world service was always free because it’s a propaganda platform that promotes Britain and British values abroad. I guess they are content just to push Reform propaganda to a domestic audience from now on.

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 week ago (2 children)

BBC announced it’s introducing a paywall for consumers in the U.S

It seems like it’s only for the US? If that’s true can you update the title OP

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

They're not that great anyway. They're barely holding on to my personal list of reliable sources. If I really need something, there are other places to go. Good luck BBC.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Any recommendations for a good replacement? I check BBC world on the daily but will be stopping as soon as this kicks in.

[–] KumaSudosa 3 points 6 days ago

I usually use Deutsche Welle actually. Generally happy with it! Also available in English, of course

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The Guardian isn't horrible, but not perfect. Reuters, if you squint, is pretty good 3/4 of the time. Propublica is great for investigative journalism. All of them have horrible headline writers at least half the time. Politico isn't worth checking, but every month or so, you might miss something. It's a mixed bag basically, so you have to check out a few.

I try to post the "real" stuff (not what trump says, but what he and the republicans are doing) on politics at sh.itjust.works on weekdays. It's US based and I'm anti-right.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Thanks. Guardian might not be a bad alternative to try BTW, Sh.itjust.works isn't US based.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 days ago

BTW, Sh.itjust.works isn’t US based.

I know. Reuters is owned by a Canadian billionaire family if that's important to you.

(Scroll down to the comments for info) https://sh.itjust.works/comment/12174374

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