The BBC is planning to relaunch the culture and politics magazine, Listener, as an online publication. The revival is the latest in a list of plans by the BBC to develop online products and push its presence in the world of new media.
The magazine, which closed nine years ago after a 62-year history, will reappear as a one-off later this month, at www.thelistener.com, featuring cartoons and columns as well as articles on the arts, culture, politics and the media. It was closed down after circulation fell to 17,000 and losses reached £1 million during the recession.
The BBC is planning to test the demand and response to the new online Listener before deciding whether to produce the site on a permanent basis.
The Corporation also appears to be making a concerted effort to draw back sports coverage into its portfolio after losing a number of major sports events last year, including the Ryder Cup rights which went to Sky last month (see Sky Extends Ryder Cup Contract By Three Years). The BBC is understood to be hatching plans to launch a sports website and to turn BBC Choice, the Corporation’s digital channel, into a sports channel. Choice is to be taken over by the football World Club Championships this month and there are plans to increase its sports coverage over the next few months.
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