BBC to share limited video news content with newspapers

The BBC will, for the first time, today share some of its own online video news content with leading UK newspaper websites.

This new partnership means that UK newspapers, for the first time, will be able to feature certain BBC video news content on their websites to complement their own news material.

The Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Independent and Daily Mail are the first newspaper websites that will be able to embed BBC video news content.

The newspapers will be able to choose video material in a number of subject areas that has already been generated for the BBC and has been published on BBC Online.

The video news content is focused on four news areas:

* UK Politics
* Business
* Health
* Science/Technology.

These genres have been chosen on the basis that they represent a good cross-section of the BBC’s public service news output on BBC Online.

The BBC will make available all of its video news content in these areas that appears on BBC Online.

BBC Deputy Director-General and Head of Journalism, Mark Byford, said: "The BBC set out its intention to open up access to BBC news content as part of the Digital Britain process.

"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.

"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.

“However, we are only providing material already produced on the BBC’s news website and restricted to certain core public service genres.”

Commenting on the partnership Emily Bell, Director of Digital Content, Guardian News & Media, said: “We’re always keen to give our online users as much information and content as possible to help them explore news stories, so we’re delighted to be collaborating with the BBC on this initiative.”

Guy Ruddle, Head of Visuals, Telegraph Media Group, added: “The Telegraph is delighted that the BBC will be allowing us and other media organisations to embed some of its clips on our websites. We have been waiting for the BBC to start sharing its content with us and this is definitely a step in the right direction in promoting partnerships.”

The BBC also plans to make the same video news content available to other UK-based news websites.

The BBC is sharing video news content via a phased approach with the first newspapers to embed content among those with the largest online audiences.

Other news websites will also be able to have access to this limited content in the future.

However, the BBC recognises it is up to the third parties themselves to decide whether to take up the offer.

The partnership announced today is part of a broad range of partnership proposals that the BBC has already announced.