BBC Studios and BBC News expand BBC.com in Canada with launch of pay model and enhanced content offering

BBC Studios and BBC News today announced plans to expand the BBC.com pay model offering to Canada this summer, building on the successful launch in the United States last year. The expansion marks the next phase in the international growth of BBC.com, providing Canadian audiences with enhanced access to the BBC’s comprehensive read, watch, and listen experience.

This launch will introduce a new experience for Canadian audiences, bringing a suite of subscriber‑only features to BBC.com and the BBC App for the first time. Paying users will receive more than 1,600 hours of documentary series and films, alongside unlimited access to full-length news articles, in‑depth features, and thousands of BBC podcasts.

The offering also unlocks exclusive newsletters, with additional subscriber‑only benefits such as early-release podcasts and more, all designed to give audiences deeper context and insight beyond the headlines.

An introductory offer will be available at CAN$69.99 per year, or CAN$12.99 per month.

Tara Maitra, President of Commercial News, BBC Studios, says: “The early success of our pay model offering reinforces the strong appetite for BBC’s brand of trusted, high-quality journalism and storytelling. Expanding the offering to Canada allows us to bring even more value to audiences who are already deeply engaged with BBC.com through exclusive content and in-depth reporting that helps people understand not just what’s happening in the world, but why it matters.”

Jonathan Munro, CEO, BBC News and Current Affairs, says: “As audiences navigate global uncertainty and an ever-growing stream of disinformation, BBC News offers audiences in Canada independent news they can trust alongside current affairs that will inspire and inform. We’re keen to grow our audience in Canada and bring them more value from the BBC.”

Users in Canada who choose not to subscribe will continue to have access to a selection of free content, including select full length global breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service radio livestreams, BBC World Service Languages sites, as well as a range of free newsletters and podcasts. All users will also be able to browse headlines on the BBC.com homepage and index pages.

UK Licence Fee payers travelling to the U.S. or Canada for holiday or work can access their usual content via the BBC News app, as long as they’ve downloaded the latest versions from the UK app stores before travelling. There will be no change to the services that people in the UK will receive and have access to. All the content that’s available on BBC.com is also available to UK audiences through the BBC’s various channels and services.

The Canadian launch builds on strong early momentum in the United States, where the service ended its most recent financial year with the number of active subscribers ahead of forecast. It also follows sustained growth for BBC.com since its 2024 relaunch, supported by significant investment in technology and journalism. BBC.com now reaches an average of 149 million visitors outside the UK each month, including 71 million in North America. In Canada, average monthly visitors grew 14% year-over-year during the 2025/26 financial year to 12.3 million, with a record 21 million visitors in April 2025.

Further details on the Canadian launch, including timing and additional subscriber benefits, will be announced in the coming months.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios is the main commercial arm of BBC Commercial Ltd and generated revenues of £2.1 billion in the last year and profits of over £200 million for a fourth consecutive year. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the content studio, which produces, invests and distributes TV and audio globally and media & streaming, with BBC branded channels, services including UKTV, BBC.com and BritBox International and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. The business made almost 3,300 hours of award-winning British programmes last year for a wide range of UK and global broadcasters and platforms. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, and includes world-famous brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who.