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Mon, 05 Mar 2007 BBC reaches YouTube deal

BBC YouTube deal sees virtual online ad-supported channels

John Blau

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The BBC is to post news, TV shows, documentaries and other shows available through YouTube.

Under the nonexclusive partnership, the BBC and its commercial subsidiary BBC Worldwide will create its own advertising-funded commercial "channels" on YouTube, the companies said on Friday.

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The deal comes on the heels of revenue-sharing agreements YouTube has reached with other content providers, including Wind-up Records and the National Basketball Association, which plans its own NBA channel.

The BBC is keen to broaden its audience and, in particular, use YouTube to generate new revenue. By promoting current programming, the BBC hopes to attract users to its own web-based, on-demand iPlayer service, formerly known as iMP (integrated Media Player).

While the BBC will provide advertising-free clips of news shows and promotional content linked to TV series such as Doctor Who and Life on Mars, and its commercial unit will offer an ad-funded entertainment channel, BBC Worldwide, featuring clips from programs including Top Gear, Spooks and The Catherine Tate Show.

Another channel, BBC World, will deliver around 30 news clips per day, with up-to-the-minute news and analysis from around the world. The content will come from the BBC Global News Division.

Users will be able to comment on clips and post their own video responses to communicate with the BBC and other viewers.

Advertising-funded clips will be available only to users outside the UK.

The BBC's deal with YouTube could spark criticism from media companies that accuse the broadcasting company of bending the rules of its public service broadcasting mission, funded by a compulsory licence fee, by moving into commercial web ventures.

The company's new on-demand offerings, including the iPlayer service, are currently undergoing a "public value test" by the BBC Trust, which works on behalf of licence-fee payers. The offerings have been given provisional approval pending a further consultation and final decision by May 2.

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