BBC targets young male audiences with YouTube-first documentary channel

The BBC is seeking creators to front a new wave of YouTube-first documentaries aimed at 16 to 24-year-old male audiences in the UK.

Applications have opened for “deepwatch”, a new digital documentary channel that will run 20 standalone films built specifically for YouTube. 

The brief asks for documentaries that take viewers inside hidden or under-explored worlds – including online subcultures, influencer pipelines and the systems shaping how young people build audiences and make money online – with a clear emphasis on content reflecting young male experiences.

The BBC said the presenter or creator will be “critical to the story”, calling for individuals who feel authentic to 16–24 audiences, ideally with a “proven following” among young UK viewers.

Five films will be commissioned from each of the UK’s nations and regions, with applications open to production companies based outside London. The deadline is 7 May.

The move builds on the BBC’s recent push to create original content for YouTube, including new channels and formats designed to reach younger audiences who are spending less time with traditional TV and more time with creators online.