BBC says no plans for content subscription service in France

The BBC says it has no plans in 2026 to introduce the paid-for subscription service it operates in the United States and Canada in other areas beyond North America, including France.

In North America, the BBC.com subscription service (US$8.99 monthly or US$49.99 for the year) is primarily intended for those wishing to stream BBC television news and documentary content on computers or televisions. It also provides access to the BBC News channel, documentaries, podcasts and videos.

The most recent annual report (2024/5), published in June 2025, did not indicate how much money the paid-for subscriptions made.

However, it outlined that the BBC.com website and the BBC mobile phone app had 15% more visitors globally compared to 2023/2024.

Part of this increase may be attributed to the BBC beginning to withdraw access to the BBC Sounds app for users outside the UK, directing people instead to BBC.com.

Access to the BBC via shortwave radio or long wave radio (for most of western France) ceased many years ago.

For most people in France, however, access to BBC Sounds was not withdrawn until July 2025, outside the period covered by the annual report.

‘No plans’ for subscription service

“There are no plans to introduce a subscription for BBC.com outside North America, nor to offer BBC Sounds or BBC iPlayer as subscription services internationally,” a spokesman for the BBC told The Connexion.

“Both remain licence fee-funded platforms designed exclusively for UK audiences.”

Following the end of BBC Sounds for international listeners, you can listen to the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4 on the BBC.com website or the BBC app. 

For all other BBC stations, use the directory at tinyurl.com/BBC-directory. 

It is advisable to delete the BBC Sounds app before listening.

BBC.com and the BBC app also gives access to some podcasts previously available on BBC Sounds, although they now contain advertising outside the UK.