Media

BBC Archive to be trialled in the new year

Published Monday, Dec 18 2006, 11:59 GMT | By Joanne Oatts
A six month consumer trial of the BBC Archive is set to begin early next year.

The trial will allow access to 1,000 hours of mixed genre content to 20,000 consumers, and will test audience demand for public service archive content and how they want to access it.

A limited amount of content, around 50 hours of TV and radio programmes, will also be available for general access.

"As part of our commitment to making our public service content more personal, more convenient and more relevant for all our audiences, we are developing a portfolio of services to offer licence payers access to the BBC's archive," said Ashley Highfield, the BBC's director of future media & technology.

The BBC Archive is an extension of the BBC's seven-day catch-up on-demand proposals, including BBC iPlayer, which are currently undergoing a Public Value Test.

"Our goal is to turn the BBC into an open cultural and creative resource for the nation," Highfield added.

Subject to the licence fee settlement, the public service archive will be further developed in light of the trials, before being submitted for approval to the new BBC Trust in the second half of 2007.

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