BBC to pave the way...................................................
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BBC 1/8BBC.CN 3/8 vows to pave way in new digital age
ÿÿÿÿ LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said on Wednesday it planned to offer a series of interactive services to the public as the country entered the digital technology age.
ÿÿÿÿ Director-general John Birt said the BBC -- which is funded by a 91.50 pound ($149) TV licence fee levied on British viewers -- planned to expand its free-to-air Internet offerings and launch new interactive services.
ÿÿÿÿ "The BBC will be a trusted guide to the Internet, helping users to find information of real value," he said in a statement.
ÿÿÿÿ The BBC's plans included promoting "communities of interest" to increase communication between people with similar interests.
ÿÿÿÿ In addition, the BBC was planning to launch an interactive service to digital TV viewers later this year that will initially feature text, graphics and videos.
ÿÿÿÿ Birt also said the broadcaster had set up a pilot scheme to explore the potential of video-on-demand, which could give users access to the BBC's entire archives.
ÿÿÿÿ "At some point, it is not yet clear when, you will be able to access the Aladdin's cave of the BBC's archives, with all its jewels -- some well-known, but many half-forgotten and rarely seen," he said.
ÿÿÿÿ Birt said the BBC would offer three new publicly-funded digital channels and four commercial channels as part of the digital TV services due to be launched in the next few months.
ÿÿÿÿ "In the digital age, the BBC will safeguard national culture; encourage diversity and extend choice; and strive to bring the benefits of the new technologies universally to every home in the land," he said.
ÿÿÿÿ Birt was due to make the remarks during a speech at the Institution of Electrical Engineers in London -- the site of the meeting of wireless manufacturers that set up the BBC in 1922. ($ = 0.612 British Pounds) |
