BBC Launches US-Only Paywall

The BBC has brought in its first paywall for its news service—and it's for American users only. The British public broadcaster announced Thursday that US users who want unlimited access to news stories and feature reports on BBC.com will have to pay $8.99 per month, or $49.99 for a year's access, the Verge reports. "Those who do not pay will still have ad-supported access to selected global breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, as well as its language services and some newsletters and podcasts," the BBC said. The BBC said its website is used by almost 140 million people around the world, including 60 million in the US.

Around two-thirds of the broadcaster's funding comes from a television license fee paid by British households, which rose to $240 this year, though BBC.com operates separately from other BBC platforms, Variety reports. It's not clear how much BBC content Americans will still be able to get for free. The BBC said it is using a "dynamic" pay model "based on how they interact with our content, including how much they read and how long they stay." This approach, the broadcaster said, "allows casual readers to explore freely, while offering our most engaged users the opportunity to unlock even more."