BBC to be purely digital by 2010

The BBC says it plans to digitise its entire production process by 2010 and expects to cut costs by more than 10 per cent as result.

The broadcaster has already started all-digital editing and distribution of programmes for selected channels such as BBC Three and BBC Four (Computing, 25 May).

And the corporation has now started a trial to test the viability of a commercial broadband TV service called interactive Media Player (iMP).

More than 1,000 people will trial the iMP service over the next three months, allowing downloads of encrypted BBC programmes, such as EastEnders and Holby City, which can be viewed on a PC via a specialist application.

'The cost savings will vary for different programmes and genres, but they are going to be more than 10 per cent,' said Paul Cheesbrough, head of technology for BBC Production.

Cheesbrough told Computing that the BBC will also need to install new PCs, desktop production tools and networking to achieve its targets.

'We are going to need new plumbing and architecture in BBC TV Centre and other buildings,' he said.

The BBC's news department, which already uses digital recording technology and a Genesis Networks MPLS IP network to transfer news material internationally, will lead the transition to digital, with children's programming and live chat shows likely be the last to switch over.

Last month, the BBC began offering media professionals access to its online archive, which stores more than 10,000 images and 350,000 hours of video dating from 1934.

With more content stored digitally the BBC will also be able to offer a greater range of programming over broadband internet, says Cheesbrough.

But digital rights issues will need to be overcome before the BBC can make independently-produced programmes and movies available.

'Broadband is the key to turning the BBC's rich content into a truly public resource,' said a BBC spokeswoman.

'The public value of this breakthrough could be as great, or even greater than for TV or radio.'