Online Journalism News

BBC offers news video to Guardian, Daily Mail, Telegraph and Independent websites

The BBC has agreed to share some online video news content with four UK newspaper websites in a groundbreaking new deal, but the new plans have sparked opposition from commercial rival ITN.

The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Independent and Daily Mail have been announced as the first sites who will be able to embed BBC video news alongside their own content, a release confirmed.

The video, which will come from BBC Online's UK politics, business, health and science/technology channels, will already have been published on the corporation's website.

The footage will appear in a BBC-branded player and can be embedded free of charge. The news organisation began the roll-out of embeddable news video in March this year.

Opposition
John Hardie, CEO of commercial news organsiation ITN, has raised concerns about the development.

"The BBC's plans to offer free video content to newspaper websites risk undermining the demand for content from independent news providers, potentially undercutting a very important revenue stream," he said in a statement from the company.

"The pressure on commercial news suppliers has never been greater which is why ITN has led the way in opening up valuable new lines of business, and the BBC's latest move risks pulling the rug from under us."

Last November the BBC Trust rejected the corporation's local video plans for a five-year £68 million investment in video provision for its local news sites, which were strongly opposed by regional newspaper publishers despite suggestions that some BBC content and equipment could be shared.

'Phased approach'
Speaking in today's release, BBC deputy director-general and head of journalism, Mark Byford, said today's announcement was part of the corporation's wider aim to open up access to BBC news content in line with the Digital Britain report.

"We regard this initiative as a core part of the BBC working more effectively as a public service partner, with other media organisations utilising BBC news content," he said.

"The way the public is consuming audio and video online is changing. Audiences are increasingly expecting news content to be available wherever they are, rather than always having to navigate to destination sites. We hope this wider distribution will extend audience reach to BBC content."

The BBC said it is planning to make the same range of clips available to other UK-based news sites as part of a 'phased approach' to sharing content. The footage will not be available to viewers outside of the UK.

"[T]he BBC recognises it is up to the third parties themselves to decide whether to take up the offer," the release added. There are no plans to increase the type of video content made available to partner sites, for example to add sports and entertainment news.

Earlier in the month the Independent announced a deal with the Press Association to increase its video news content online.

Tags (click tag to find related articles; click icon for feed):
telegraph | bbc | daily mail | guardian | video | independent | mark byford |

Sign up here for our free, daily email newsletter to get all the latest stories, jobs, tips and more.

Got a story? Email our news team: Laura Oliver; Judith Townend or telephone +44 (0)1273 384290. You can also follow us on Twitter: @journalismnews / @LauraOliver / @JTownend.