As part of an agreement with ABC News, Yahoo is beginning to offer BBC News video on its site. Yahoo! users will now have access to approximately 30 video clips of BBC News video each day, including a large assortment of videos pertaining to most major news and entertainment genres.
Yahoo! to Serve UP BBC Videos
Nearly a year ago, ABC News signed a deal with the BBC to become the exclusive distributor of the channel’s broadband content throughout North America. Today’s announcement leverages Yahoo! News as the primary platform for BBC News video distribution pursuant to the January agreement.
“The BBC has established itself as an unparalleled global news-gathering organization, and its content will be a tremendous complement to the world class news already available on our site,” said Scott Moore, head of news and information for Yahoo! Media Group.
“The BBC has a cool factor with younger audiences, a natural fit for Yahoo! News users who are generally younger than audiences at other news organizations.”
The videos will be made available for free to Yahoo! News users as part of an ad-supported model.
This announcement, of course, begs an even larger question pertaining to the future of BBC programming and Yahoo!’s online video offerings:
When will Yahoo! offer exclusive episodes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus?
Come on, you know you were thinking it, too. Yahoo! definitely needs to look at the bigger picture when it comes to the virtual goldmine they’re sitting on when it comes to BBC television distribution.
Two facts remain unchallenged here:
• People love online video
• People love Monty Python
This is the kind of score that will give Yahoo! an advantage over Google in the online video marketplace. Who knows, maybe it could spurn a whole trend of bringing cult BBC television to North America for mass distribution.
First Monty Python, then Absolutely Fabulous, the possibilities are virtually endless!
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Joe is a staff writer for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest ebusiness news.
