BBC Worldwide Set To Launch Online Music Service

BBC Worldwide is set to launch an ad-backed online music service, with free and paid-for access to the BBC’s extensive audio and video archive, if approved by the BBC Trust.

The broadcaster’s commercial arm is working on a test version of the service now, which it hopes to launch in November, before a full roll-out in January.

However, the service requires approval from the BBC Trust and a BBC spokesman confirmed that “at present, no launches have been approved”.

If the service is approved, it could launch with 1000 music tracks from the BBC’s various radio and TV music programmes, including Radio 1’s Live Lounge.

Eventually, the service could feature 50,000 music audio tracks and 3000 hours of video content from the BBC’s archive, such as programmes like Top of the Pops and its Glastonbury Festival coverage.

Unlike its competitors, including iTunes and Amazon, the BBC’s music service will allow users to stream full-length audio and videos for free.

BBC Worldwide is expected to charge users for downloading content to rent or keep, though it will be DRM-free so consumers will be able to copy or transfer it to various devices, unlike Apple’s iTunes.

Advertising and subscription revenues will reportedly make up around half of the overall revenue, as all audio and video content on the service will carry pre-roll, mid-roll and post-roll ads.

Display ads will also feature on the service, with potential homepage takeovers, which could be handled by Google’s DoubleClick.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk