View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
June 21, 2001updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

BBC interactive news service may launch this year

By Press Gazette

Sue Barker

 

The BBC is drawing up plans for an interactive news service, which could be launched by the end of the year.

As the BBC gears up for its first interactive Wimbledon Tennis Championships, a service allowing viewers to choose from a menu of video news and text services could be available from as early as the autumn.

Staff are already being recruited for the news service, which is being worked on by the BBC’s online and interactive teams and is being spearheaded by Mike Smartt, executive editor of BBC News Online.

Press advertisements were placed last week for two assistant editors to help produce video and text for the interactive service which will also provide coverage of live events.

A spokesman said the BBC’s interactive services would build on the success of online services, which recent figures show are attracting around 160 million page hits a month.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

The launch comes a year after the introduction of Sky News Interactive, which featured prominently in its election coverage. BBC chiefs admit they have trailed the field in developing interactive services and are now looking to catch up.

Interactive news will build on recent developments, such as BBC Sport Online’s daily video bulletins and the interactive Wimbledon service which, following a deal with ntl, will be available to digital subscribers from Monday.

But the corporation’s move into the interactive field has already attracted criticism from its commercial rivals. ITV chief executive Stuart Prebble, delivering the annual Goodman Derrick lecture in London this week, criticised as "inappropriate" such use of licence-fee payers’ money.

 

By Julie Tomlin

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network