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BBC One set to make history with move online

by Darren Davidson, Brand Republic 05-Jun-08, 11:50

LONDON - The BBC has unveiled plans to air its flagship channel BBC One live on the internet, making it the first of the corporation's analogue TV channels to be simulcast on the web.

The move will mean that for the first time in the channel's 44-year history, viewers will not need a television to watch BBC One live. TV viewers will be able to access the channel as a live video stream via bbc.co.uk.

Although BBC Three and the BBC News Channel are already simulcast online, they have always been digital channels, whereas BBC One is the first of the corporation's mainstream analogue networks to move online.

The plan is part of the BBC's Statements of Programme Policy, which is published online today.

The statements detail, service-by-service, how the BBC will deliver its public service remit across its portfolio over the year ahead.

The BBC said: "Building on the success of the BBC iPlayer, we want to develop bbc.co.uk to include a broad range of the BBC's broadcast content, as well as new and interactive forms of media that enable audiences to interact with and contribute to the website.

"This will be subject to further scrutiny by the Trust and the Trust's approval of new controls which are being developed in response to the review of bbc.co.uk, published last week."

Despite the move online implying that viewers will not need a television to access BBC One, they will still have to pay the licence fee.

According to the corporation's licence fee website: "You need a TV licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top box, video or DVD recorder, computer or mobile phone to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV."

The BBC has not set a date for the initiative, which will happen later in the year.

Comments

Digital Rain - 06/06/2008

Why is Brand Republic - or the BBC - making a distinction here about 'digital' vs. analogue channels any more? Given the extent of penetration of digital viewers, it's such an outdated way of thinking. Admittedly, BBC Three doesn't compare to BBC One in average audience size, but really, there's no story here?! The 'news' was when they did it with BBC Three.

Mark Smith - 06/06/2008

Sounds to me like you haven't read the story. As it points out, BBC Three was always digital from the start, whereas BBC One is analogue so its move online is a pretty big deal. Not least because it's one of the largest and oldest channels in the UK and the move has massive implications for its competitors - particularly its commercial rivals like ITV1 and C4 - and the viewers who can now watch the channel on the net.