BBC Studios Bets on Linear TV to Fund Streaming Growth — SkimNews
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- Marcus Arthur leads BBC Studios’ global channels and streaming division, balancing a streaming-first future against the ongoing profitability of linear TV in international markets.
- BBC Studios generated £788 million ($1.1 billion) in revenue for 2025/26, with linear channels still contributing significantly despite the strategic pivot toward streaming.
- BBC Studios launched a suite of Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) channels in the U.K., including Top Gear on U and EastEnders on U, expanding its digital footprint with low-risk, testable formats.
- BBC Studios reported 53.6 million hours of FAST channel viewing in EMEA in the first seven months of the year, a year-on-year increase of over 50%, signaling strong audience uptake.
- BBC Studios partnered with CosmoBlue to launch a general entertainment network across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, integrating BBC Player into the CosmoGO app.
- UKTV, a BBC Studios-owned channel group, placed content from its ‘U’-branded service on Channel 4’s streaming platform, gaining access to a younger audience without cannibalizing its standalone offering.
Why it matters: BBC Studios is using linear TV profits to fund digital growth at a time when public broadcaster funding is under pressure, making its commercial success critical to the broader BBC. The 50%+ rise in FAST viewing and strategic platform partnerships show scalable paths to audience expansion without sacrificing current revenue streams.
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