It seems likely the British Broadcasting Corporation will soon launch its own subscription-free internet access service in conjunction with Scottish Telecom Ltd, the telecommunications arm of Scottish Power Plc. The service, which is touted to be called freebeeb.net would be run by the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, which runs advertising-funded content site beeb.com.
The BBC’s commercial ventures are not allowed to fund themselves with money from TV license fees (essentially a 100 pound ($160) ‘tax’), but they can pump money back into the organization’s core programming budget. Beeb.com is allowed to place brief advertising trails on the two BBC channels, but only when there is a recognizable editorial link between the beeb.com content and the show the trail follows – for example, when a show’s star is interviewed online. Any ISP venture could follow similar rules, particularly if linked to the existed beeb.com service, giving a potential audience of many millions. BBC Online, a non-commercial operation funded with license fees, was in January found to be the second most popular web site in the UK. The BBC also publishes the Radio Times listings magazine, which would be a perfect distribution vehicle for registration CDs.
Both the BBC and Scottish Power refused to confirm the rumors, which would appear to have been leaked from within the organization, while heavily implying that an announcement is imminent, though nothing has yet been signed. When an announcement is made, it is certain to be high-profile.
