BBC News launches live YouTube channel in UK and US
October 15, 2026 11.58 Europe/London By Julian Clover


The BBC News channel is launching live on YouTube in the UK and United States as part of a trial aimed at reaching new and younger audiences.

Starting October 15, the stream will carry the channel’s coverage of domestic and international news, politics, business, technology, culture and breaking stories.

The two markets join Australia, Kenya, Nigeria and Poland, where the BBC News channel is already available through YouTube. The expansion forms part of the corporation’s wider strategy for the platform.

Anjali Kapoor, Director of AI, Innovation and Growth for BBC News, said audiences increasingly expect news to be available on the platforms they use throughout the day.

“Launching the BBC News channel on YouTube in the UK and US is an important step in bringing our trusted journalism to even more people,” she said.

YouTube UK Managing Director Alison Lomax said the launch would make the BBC’s live news coverage more accessible to a new generation of viewers.

The BBC joins an established market for live news on YouTube, where Sky News, GB News and Talk already offer channel streams. Times Radio also provides a live video offering alongside its interviews and on-demand coverage.

The BBC News channel remains available through BBC iPlayer and the BBC News website and app in the UK. US distribution includes cable, FAST and connected TV platforms, alongside BBC.com and the BBC app.