BBC Online will not: Launch its own social network

The BBC is announcing a set of closures and reductions as follows:

• The closure of half of the 400 Top Level Domains (with 180 closing ahead of schedule later this year)
• The replacement of the majority of programme websites with automated content
• The automation of bespoke digital radio sites 1Xtra, 5 Live Sports Extra, 6 Music and Radio 7
• The closure of RAW, Blast, Switch, Video Nation and the disposal of h2g2
• The removal of non-News features content from Local sites
• A substantial reduction in showbusiness news on the News website
• Fewer News blogs, with more focus on the updates from leading editors and correspondents
• A reduction in the overall amount of Sports news and live sport
• Stand-alone forums, communities and message boards and blogs to be reduced and replaced with integrated social tools
• The closure of the 606 community site and the closure of the BBC iPlayer message board

BBC Online will not:

• Launch its own social network
• Offer specialist news content for specialist audiences
• Publish local listings
• Develop encyclopaedic propositions in Knowledge
• Provide continuing professional development materials for teachers or a managed learning environment for schools
• Become a video-on-demand aggregator in BBC iPlayer, although it will link to other on-demand providers
• Produce online-only music sessions
• Offer track-by-track music streaming
• Invest in exclusive online sports rights

Good. I've always felt that a lot of the BBC's online content has been "because we can" and not up to par with what's available elsewhere on the web (e.g. Everything2 vs. h2g2), it only fragments the web, and fills the airtime with between-programme interstitals featuring "don't forget to check out {online property of the week} online!".

Whilst this is all done under the guise of reducing the BBC's competition with independents and third-parties and the reduced budget this year, I'm just glad they had the balls to pull it off.

Now if only they can do the same with BBC Three, and bring back Charlie Brooker to BBC Four.

(for the record, despite being a poor starving student, I do pay my TV License fee).

@eagle: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12265173

 To be honest, most of the cuts are places I have never ventured. A £137 million budget is a lot of money.

They spent millions of people's TV License fees, sounds like the most expensive hosting in the world.

Is there anyone protesting the closure of these communities?

180 community sites, does anyone know if there's a list?

Links would be appreciated.

@W3bbo: I think in a matter of a few years, livensing for TV will be much like software and or the way the times @ timesonline.co.uk are operating, we just need everyone to go digital

@W3bbo: I think in a matter of a few years, livensing for TV will be much like software and or the way the times @ timesonline.co.uk are operating, we just need everyone to go digital

Haven't used BBC. But, there is no point to compete with Facebook. As all big 3 failed already, Apple, Google, MS.

BBC NI Learning

BBC Northern Ireland Mobile Learning

BBC Never Learning