© Andrew Milligan/PATim Davie - Andrew Milligan/PA
The BBC may begin charging overseas audiences for access to news, as it seeks ways to make money in the face of waning support for the licence fee.
Under plans being considered by Tim Davie, the director-general, news content on bbc.com would be restricted. Breaking news would remain free to read, but analysis pieces, features and some video content would be placed behind a paywall.
BBC Studios, the corporation's commercial arm, has been given new instructions to monetise the BBC's global news output.
The broadcaster wants to boost the amount it makes from commercial operations by 30 per cent to £1.5 billion within five years, amid uncertainty over the future of the licence fee once the current charter ends in 2027.
Setting out the new plans, Mr Davie said: "We are actively building commercial income with ambitious commercial plans for high quality programmes, vital funding and international audiences."
Children's programming will also be moved to BBC Studios, allowing the corporation to make shows for rivals including Netflix and Amazon. The head of the Children's department declared last month that she hopes to develop an animated hit to rival The Simpsons, which could be sold around the world.
Speaking at a media conference, Mr Davie said commercial plans under consideration included "what we do with news - do we put something behind a paywall somewhere?"
BBC insiders said that the paywall offering for bbc.com could differ from country to country. "We would be looking at very specific markets and doing things in a very specific way," a source said.
"We are very much in the beginning phase of looking at this. There would still be free content including breaking news - it's not the case of putting everything behind a paywall. There are a lot of balances to be considered, and we know there are places where free, impartial news is vital."
While the BBC is under pressure to find alternative revenue streams in the face of a decline in licence fee income, there will be concerns that restricting access to news overseas could have political repercussions because the corporation's overseas reach is regarded as a significant part of Britain's "soft power".
Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day's agenda from The Telegraph - direct to your inbox seven days a week.