For decades, the BBC has been a benchmark of public broadcasting, respected for its journalism, admired for its dramas, and cherished for its documentaries. Yet, for those of us living outside the United Kingdom, access to this cultural wealth remains frustratingly limited. While the BBC continues to produce world-class content with global appeal, its flagship streaming service, BBC iPlayer, remains geo-blocked to users outside the UK. In an era of global media consumption, it’s time for that to change. The BBC should offer a subscription-based version of iPlayer to international audiences.
First, the demand is clear. British television has a massive international fanbase. From Doctor Who to Planet Earth, from Fleabag to Line of Duty, BBC programmes consistently rank among the most downloaded, discussed, and pirated shows worldwide. This level of interest indicates a global market willing to pay for legal, high-quality access. As streaming becomes the dominant form of content delivery, the absence of a legal international BBC iPlayer forces viewers either to do without or to use VPNs to bypass regional restrictions. A subscription model would provide a legitimate, revenue-generating alternative that meets the needs of this global audience.
Second, the BBC’s current patchwork approach to international content distribution is inadequate. Services like BBC Select and BritBox offer limited slices of the full iPlayer experience, focused mostly on documentaries or classic series. These platforms, while welcome, are no substitute for the full breadth of current programming; including news, culture, drama, comedy, and live events, that defines the BBC brand. By restricting its best content to UK viewers, the BBC undermines its own global reach and influence.
Third, public broadcasters everywhere face funding challenges. The BBC is no exception, with licence fee revenues under political and economic pressure. A global subscription iPlayer could open a valuable new revenue stream, reducing dependence on domestic licence fees while remaining true to the BBC’s public service mission. Other national broadcasters, such as Australia’s ABC and Germany’s ZDF, are experimenting with broader digital access models. The BBC, with its unmatched content library and global brand recognition, is uniquely positioned to lead in this space.
There are an estimated 5.5 million British citizens living abroad, many of whom maintain strong cultural ties to the UK. If just a quarter of them, around 1.4 million people, were willing to pay £100 annually for full access to BBC iPlayer, it would generate an additional £140 million in revenue. That figure alone is equivalent to nearly 4% of the BBC’s annual licence fee income, and could significantly offset recent budget deficits. For comparison, BritBox, a joint venture between the BBC and ITV offering only a limited catalogue of British content, has attracted approximately 3.4 million subscribers worldwide. This proves there is a willing and growing international audience ready to pay for high-quality British programming, even without live news, current affairs, or the full range of iPlayer’s offerings. A global iPlayer subscription model would not only bring in meaningful new revenue, it would also reinforce the BBC’s relevance, while reaffirming the corporation’s commitment to serving British citizens, no matter where they live.
And finally, speaking personally, as a Brit living in Canada, I want access to myBBC in all its glory. I was raised on it, I trust it, and I miss it. I am more than willing to pay a fair subscription fee for full access to the iPlayer, including news, current affairs, live coverage, and the very best of British storytelling. I am not alone. Millions of British expatriates around the world feel the same. We are not asking for a free ride, just a way to reconnect with a cultural and civic institution that still matters deeply to us.
In a world where cultural exchange is increasingly digital, the BBC has both an opportunity and an obligation to act. Millions already turn to it for trusted journalism and rich storytelling. A global iPlayer would not only serve this audience, it would strengthen the BBC’s mission in the 21st century. It’s time to unlock the doors and let the world in.
Sources:
• BBC Select: https://www.bbcselect.com/
• BritBox Canada: https://www.britbox.com/ca/
• BBC Annual Plan 2024–2025: https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/reports/annualplan
• Ofcom Report on Public Service Broadcasting (2023): https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/266616/psb-annual-report-2023.pdf
“I should be watching Question Time
That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it –
I want my, I want my, I want my BBC!”
The Rowanwood Chronicles 