BBC ISP “Will Distort The Market”

In the week of its launch the BBC’s free internet service provider, freebeeb.net, was ordered offline by a coalition of Britain’s biggest internet publishers. BIPA (British Internet Publishers Allliance), which includes United News & Media, News International, ITN and Emap have written to culture secretary Chris Smith complaining that the service, freebeeb.net, will have an unfair advantage in the burgeoning market of internet publishing.

BIPA has previously warned the government about the inevitable dominance on the part of the BBC which it believes will mean that the web’s unique plurality of choice will be lost. Chairman Sir Frank Rogers said: “The Government has failed to recognise that the creation of a BBC Internet service, supported by the vast marketing and branding resources of the BBC, will create a gateway to the Internet that will lead to unacceptable distortions in the private sector and stifle the proper development of the UK commercial market.”

The BBC defends itself by claiming that by funding the project through its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, it is not directly using licence fee money for the venture. However opponents are convinced that the corporation will still use the strength of its tv and radio services to publicise the venture and push users towards the rest of its operations.

Freebeeb.net was launched last week by Rupert Gavin, the chief executive of BBC Worldwide. The CD-Rom needed to load it will be distributed via a telephone hotline, on the covers of magazines and through 1,200 T&S convenience stores.

BBC Worldwide: 0181 576 2000