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FT 2006: BBC hints at charges for international web users

Posted: 06/03/06 By: Jemima Kiss

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The BBC may begin to charge for international users of BBC.co.uk, an executive hinted today.

Speaking at the FT's digital media conference in London today, BBC Worldwide's director of strategy and new media David Moody said that the interest in on-demand services and the potential to build stronger relationships with users made this "the right time to look at commercialising international traffic to BBC.co.uk".

He said that with 75 million monthly unique users on BBC.co.uk, the brand needed to combine its huge equity and history with innovation to create new on-demand consumer services. The role of traditional schedulers is redundant in the on-demand world, he said, where users want to fit TV around their own schedules.

Mr Moody, who represents the commercial arm of the BBC, also said there is increasing competition from new companies in the industry which means that traditional media businesses need to adapt quickly to a changing media landscape.

"This is a call to arms for content owners to break some rules and anticipate what consumers want," he said.

"If we don't, others will."

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