BBC Worldwide, the corporation’s commercial arm, will now take over the development of BBC.com along with BBC Global News, which runs the BBC World TV channel.
Web portals covering genres such as natural history, and programme websites around top shows such as Top Gear – plus paid-for international versions of the iPlayer - will now form a key part of commercialising BBC.com.
The plans follow the BBC Trust’s decision to finally allow BBC.com, the BBC’s international website, to carry advertising, after months of delays.
The National Union of Journalists has led opposition to the move by running poster ads under the banner, ‘campaigning for an ad-free BBC’ but the BBC moved to quash fears that ads would affect editorial quality by saying that “robust editorial safeguards” would be put in place.
BBC World, the corporation’s international news channel, has carried advertising since its 1991 launch. By extending advertising to BBC.com, BBC Worldwide said it is on track to grow online revenues to 10% of overall income in the future.
