 |
Press Releases
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and YouTube partner to bring short-form ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ content to online audiences
|
 YouTube content to include two ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½-branded entertainment channels showing short-form videos
Ìý
Dedicated channel for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News clips also to be featured on YouTube
Ìý
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide and YouTube today announced the beginning
of a partnership to offer Internet users across the world new and innovative
ways to experience and enjoy ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ content through YouTube.
Ìý
This non-exclusive partnership will create branded ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ "Channels" on YouTube
operating under separate ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide agreements.
Ìý
The partnership
reflects YouTube's commitment to work with content owners to make compelling
video accessible online, and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s commitment to increase reach through the
partnership, to bring new audiences to the proposed ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer service, and to
secure commercial revenue via ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide, its commercial subsidiary, to
supplement the licence fee.
Ìý
The partnership, which will build over time, comprises three elements:
Ìý
From the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½: Clips of new shows and specially commissioned promotional
content linked to popular series such as Doctor Who and Life On Mars. At
launch, the YouTube community will be able to enjoy a range of specially-
created video diaries including David Tennant and Freema Agyeman, who'll take
viewers around the set of Doctor Who; John Simm going back in time for Life On
Mars; and Clive Myrie on the streets of the red zone of Baghdad
Ìý
From ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide: An entertainment channel called "ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide"
showing clips from material such as Top Gear, Spooks, The Catherine Tate Show,
The Mighty Boosh and a range of factual programmes including those presented by
David Attenborough. The channel will include a limited amount of advertising.
Ìý
From ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s international commercial television channel:
Around 30 news clips per day will be offered, with up-to-the-minute news and
analysis from around the world. The advertising-funded clips will be available
to users outside the UK only.
Ìý
Users will be able to comment on clips, rate them, recommend them to friends
and post their own video responses to communicate with the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and other
viewers.
Ìý
Mark Thompson, Director-General of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, said: "This ground-breaking
partnership between the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and YouTube is fantastic news for our audiences.
YouTube is a key gateway through which to engage new audiences in the UK and
abroad.
Ìý
"The partnership provides both a creative outlet for a range of short-form
content from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ programme makers and the opportunity to learn about new forms
of audience behaviour.
Ìý
"It's essential that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ embraces new ways of
reaching wider audiences with non-exclusive partnerships such as these."
Ìý
Eric Schmidt, CEO and Chairman of Google, said: "We're delighted to be joining
forces with the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ to bring the best TV programming available to the YouTube
community.
Ìý
"We will continue to invest in our platforms and technologies to help
our partners make the most of the enormous opportunities presented by the
billion people now online."
Ìý
Chad Hurley, CEO and Co-Founder of YouTube, said: "We're constantly looking for
innovative ways to bring the best content to our community.
Ìý
"The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is a
premier source for quality programming, and we're excited that they are leading
the way in enabling two-way dialogue and real engagement with an entirely new
audience. We hope to open up an entirely new audience for their content, while
deepening their relationship with their existing viewers."
Ìý
Benefits
Ìý
The non-exclusive partnership reflects the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s commitment to reach audiences
in new ways.
Ìý
The aim is to offer audiences a taste of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ programming with
clips which will (subject to the conclusion of the ongoing PVT process) link
them to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s proposed iPlayer service on bbc.co.uk.
Ìý
For ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide the
partnership forms part of a strategy to bring great British content to new
audiences around the world through its global TV channels and its proposed new
digital businesses - the commercial iPlayer and the commercialisation of
international traffic to bbc.co.uk. Increasing levels of funds will be
returned to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ for investment in new programming.
Ìý
Clips on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News (available to users outside the UK only) and "ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide"
will benefit from Google and YouTube's advertising platforms, generating new
revenues for investment in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ programme development and creation. Advertising
will be governed by a comprehensive set of guidelines.
Ìý
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and YouTube Partnership: Press Room
Ìý
The press room can be accessed through:
Ìý
Username: press
Password: bbcyoutube
Ìý
Notes to Editors
Ìý
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s new on-demand proposals, including ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer, are currently
undergoing a Public Value Test (PVT) by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust. These proposals have
been given provisional approval pending a further consultation and final
decision by 2 May 2007.
Ìý
About ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Ìý
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ exists to enrich people's lives with great programmes and services that
inform, educate and entertain. It provides a wide range of distinctive
programmes and services for everyone, free of commercial interests and
political bias. They include television, radio, national, local, children's,
educational, language and other services for key interest groups. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is
financed by a TV licence paid by households. It does not have to serve the
interests of advertisers, or produce a return for shareholders.
Ìý
About ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide
Ìý
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary
of the British Broadcasting Corporation (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½). The company exists to maximise
the value of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s assets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest
in public service programming in return for rights. The company has six core
businesses: Global Channels, Global TV Sales, Magazines, Content & Production,
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Entertainment and Digital Media. In 2005/06 ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Worldwide generated
profits of £89m on sales of £784m.
Ìý
About ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Global News Division
Ìý
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Global News Division comprises ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service radio, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Monitoring,
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World television and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s international facing online news services,
and provides a focal point for viewers and listeners around the world.
Together, these services attract a combined global weekly audience of over 210
million. The division's aim, under the leadership of its Director Richard
Sambrook, is to be the world's best known, most creative and most respected
voice in international news.
Ìý
About YouTube
Ìý
Founded in February 2005, YouTube is the leader in online video, and the
premier destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through a Web
experience. YouTube allows people to easily upload and share video clips on
www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, blogs, and email.
YouTube has quickly become the leading destination on the Internet for video
entertainment. Ìý
ST
Ìý
|
Printable version