Europe gives £150m BBC digital curriculum the go ahead

by Claire Billings,, Brand Republic 01-Oct-03, 16:00

LONDON - The BBC's controversial £150m online education resource The Digital Curriculum will launch in 2006, following the news that it has been given the go ahead by the European Commission.

The service, which will undergo a series of pilots and tests in the run-up to the launch, will provide interactive learning materials on the internet that will support the UK's national school curriculum.

The commercial sector had vigorously opposed the plans, with companies such as Granada and Reed Elsevier lobbying the government to stop them going ahead.

However, the plans were approved by the UK government back in January, when Tessa Jowell, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, imposed as many as 18 conditions on the service after listening to concerns from the commercial sector.

At the time, she said: "There is room for everyone. These conditions will prevent the BBC from dominating this market, but it's right that it should play an important role in a competitive and growing market for digital learning resources."

The Digital Curriculum will be free and accessible to all pupils, teachers and parents online in the classroom, at home and at venues across the UK.

In August, Jowell appointed former Trinity Mirror chief executive Philip Graf to conduct a review of how the BBC is spending resources on its online operation BBCi, following complaints from commercial rivals.

The findings will be considered as part of a review of the BBC's Charter, which is set to be renewed in 2006.

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