The Cloud to offer BBC content for free

Content from the BBC's website will be made available on The Cloud's wi-fi network for free.

The Cloud is one of the UK's largest wi-fi hotspot providers and has deals with the City of London and shops such as McDonalds and Coffee Republic.

Ashley Highfield, the BBC's director of future media and technology, said: "We’re delighted to be partnering with The Cloud in what we hope is the first of many such partnerships across the UK. This is a new environment for the BBC and one which we believe will be hugely important for our future success. This venture enables us to offer free Wi-Fi access to BBC content on the high street, furthering the BBC’s commitment to make its content as widely available as possible to our audiences wherever they are. For instance they can catch up on Strictly Come Dancing whilst having a café latte in Coffee Republic."

The deal, which is non-exclusive, covers all of the BBC's online content including iPlayer.