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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BBC's global website to carry ads | BBC's global website to carry ads |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Advertising will appear on the BBC News website for users outside the UK, the corporation's commercial arm says. | |
| BBC Worldwide says advertising will generate new income for the BBC, which needs to plug a £2bn budget shortfall. | BBC Worldwide says advertising will generate new income for the BBC, which needs to plug a £2bn budget shortfall. |
| The BBC argues that overseas readers, who do not pay the license fee, should contribute towards the costs. | The BBC argues that overseas readers, who do not pay the license fee, should contribute towards the costs. |
| However, critics say commercialisation will undermine the editorial integrity of the BBC and is a slippery slope towards privatisation. | However, critics say commercialisation will undermine the editorial integrity of the BBC and is a slippery slope towards privatisation. |
| BBC Worldwide says the advertising will be introduced on popular web pages but did not say when the first adverts will be carried. | BBC Worldwide says the advertising will be introduced on popular web pages but did not say when the first adverts will be carried. |
| Adverts currently appear on the BBC World television channel, which cannot be seen in the UK, and were recently introduced on the international website's video content. | Adverts currently appear on the BBC World television channel, which cannot be seen in the UK, and were recently introduced on the international website's video content. |
| 'Natural development' | 'Natural development' |
| More than half the users of the news site are outside the UK. | More than half the users of the news site are outside the UK. |
| "Introducing advertising on international traffic to news pages is a natural development in the growth of the BBC's commercial news services," says Richard Sambrook, director of BBC global news. | "Introducing advertising on international traffic to news pages is a natural development in the growth of the BBC's commercial news services," says Richard Sambrook, director of BBC global news. |
| The decision comes as the BBC announces job losses in an effort to cut costs after a smaller licence fee settlement from the government. | The decision comes as the BBC announces job losses in an effort to cut costs after a smaller licence fee settlement from the government. |
| While UK users pay for the website through their licence fee, international audiences are getting the service for free, the corporation says | While UK users pay for the website through their licence fee, international audiences are getting the service for free, the corporation says |
| Overseas readers are more expensive to reach because their computers need overseas servers, and this cost will grow as more video is made available on the site. | Overseas readers are more expensive to reach because their computers need overseas servers, and this cost will grow as more video is made available on the site. |
| Rivals upset | Rivals upset |
| The decision to carry advertising will also upset online rivals. | The decision to carry advertising will also upset online rivals. |
| The British Internet Publishers Alliance (BIPA), which represents the Guardian Media Group and News International, said earlier this year that the plan would hit revenue its members could make online. | The British Internet Publishers Alliance (BIPA), which represents the Guardian Media Group and News International, said earlier this year that the plan would hit revenue its members could make online. |
| Showing adverts to non-UK readers of BBC websites would also undermine the BBC's "worldwide reputation for integrity and impartiality", it added. | Showing adverts to non-UK readers of BBC websites would also undermine the BBC's "worldwide reputation for integrity and impartiality", it added. |
| BBC Worldwide had earlier pledged that the bbc.com site would not feature pop-up promos or the sort of adverts that "give the web a bad name". | BBC Worldwide had earlier pledged that the bbc.com site would not feature pop-up promos or the sort of adverts that "give the web a bad name". |
| So-called geo-IP technology will be used to ensure that only non-UK users of the site see the advertising, although critics argue that the technology is not 100% reliable. | So-called geo-IP technology will be used to ensure that only non-UK users of the site see the advertising, although critics argue that the technology is not 100% reliable. |