Last month, the BBC, a British public broadcaster, announced a strategic partnership with the online video platform YouTube as part of its 'Value for All' strategy aimed at improving viewer accessibility to its content. This partnership will enable viewers to easily access BBC content globally by collaborating with a leading platform provider. As part of this initiative, the BBC plans to invest in creating new YouTube-exclusive programming and to nurture content creators across the UK, intending to increase its user base and strengthen connections with audiences worldwide for commercial growth.

The decision by the BBC—often heralded as the world's premier public broadcaster—to shift from a 'digital first' approach to a 'YouTube first' experiment is significant, indicating that notable media companies are exploring pathways through partnerships with YouTube. BBC Director General Tim Davie stated in a press release that the partnership would help the BBC connect with viewers in innovative ways, highlighting a notable transformation in media consumption patterns.

This shift underscores the solid status of YouTube as a mainstream content consumption channel, demonstrating the growing dominance of what can be called the 'YouTube era.' In particular, the trend is evident in South Korea, where the use of YouTube for news consumption has reached 50%, significantly higher than the global average of 30%. In contrast, traditional media outlets are feeling pressure, and while they express discomfort with YouTube's approach to journalism standards, they are also compelled to engage with it as a critical news source.