BBC World launches embedded news video on BBC.com

Media News

Mumbai, April 17, 2008

BBC World has launched embedded news video clips on BBC.com.  This new service allows users to view broadband-quality news video within the text content page, rather than launching a separate player, and is predicted to increase news video usage on the site.

Starting today, the enhanced service offers pre-roll advertising opportunities outside of the UK, on one of the most respected brands on the internet. Research shows that BBC.com attracts a quality and growing audience of 29 million non-UK, unique users each month (ComScore), with around 50% of those users visiting the news pages.

Every day, around 30 international news reports and hourly one-minute World News summaries can be watched by clicking on the ‘watch’ icons at BBC.com/news, giving audiences access to the BBC news content they want - when they want it.

Sian Kevill, Editorial Director BBC World, says, “This is great news for our many millions of users. By embedding news clips, it allows us to bring video content into the heart of the story, delivering our online audience richer journalism”.

Global Brands Allianz and Shell have signed up as exclusive launch advertising partners, buying out the news video clips across BBC.com today and tomorrow for the first two days of the new service.

Tom Bowman, VP International Digital Ad Sales, says, “This execution of embedded news video clips on BBC.com offers easy access to great content for our users and targeted, impactful coverage for our advertisers too. We are delighted to have secured Global Brands Allianz and Shell as our exclusive launch partners”.

A multi-dimensional trade marketing campaign is running to support the launch of the new service, including a microsite which can be viewed at www.bbcreachingmillions.com.

For further information, please contact:

BBC World

Vidhu Aul

Tel: +91 22 30652108

e-mail: Vidhu.aul@bbc.co.uk