From The Register: theregister.co.uk
Posted 08/09/99 7:14am by Tim Richardson
Beeb.com in X-Stream content deal
The X-Stream Network is to feature content from beeb.com -- the commercial site run by BBC Worldwide -- in a deal that could spark similar agreements in the future.
X-Stream users will be able to get their hands on prime content from Top Gear, Top of the Pops, Radio Times, Good Homes, Holiday and Gardeners World.
David Atter, S&M director at beeb.com was at pains to point out that beeb.com is not funded by the BBC's licence fee.
"beeb.com is distinct from BBC Online which is the licence fee funded public service Web site looking after areas such as news and the World Service.
"beeb.com is independent of licence fee funding and is a commercial organisation," he said.
As well as 2D content the agreement also gives X-Stream users access to live chat sessions with TV and pop personalities.
"When it comes to providing up-to-date, high quality content to users, you can't do much better than beeb.com," said Paul Myers, MD of X-Stream.
And he's right. Except the deal could further inflame the debate over the role of the BBC and its association with new media.
Last week the British Internet Publisher's Alliance (BIPA) tore into the BBC saying that the launch of its subscription-free ISP, Freebeeb.net, was anti-competitive and an abuse of public money.
Whether BIPA blasts the BBC again over this latest venture remains to be seen. No one from BIPA or BBC Worldwide was available for comment at press time. ®
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