BBC's online services under review

An official review of bbc.co.uk has been launched today by the corporation’s regulator to ensure that its online services create public value.

More than half of the UK's internet population, around 13.2 million people, visit bbc.co.uk's more than two million pages.

The BBC Trust will look at bbc.co.uk's role, how it is contributing to the BBC's public purposes, the distinctiveness of the service and the way it should respond to changes in user expectations and the web environment.

Patricia Hodgson, a BBC Trustee, said: "The Trust must ensure that the BBC provides distinctive, high quality services to everyone in the UK. bbc.co.uk supports the BBC remit with a large website, covering a wide range of subjects including news, sport, weather, learning, entertainment, children’s and lifestyle."

"This review will consider bbc.co.uk's performance against the terms of its service licence and will assess whether the licence needs to be developed or changed in any way."

In March, the BBC suspended its education resource website BBC Jam after complaints from the commercial sector. The site, which included materials for teachers, pupils and parents, generated complaints from industry rivals that BBC Jam was damaging their interests.

The review of bbc.co.uk will include a three-month consultation period, with the Trust's review published in early 2008.

www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust

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