BBC Move to Apps Market Causes Consternation
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
Leader in the broadcast media, the BBC has announced its plans to enter into the apps market. As part of this process, the BBC is planning to launch, from April 2010, a news and sport iPhone application service.
The company is also in the process of creating applications for Google’s Android Platform and BlackBerry handsets. This is being done because of the growing demand for digital content accessible through the latest handheld devices with advanced technology.
There are already quite a few players jostling for space in the apps market so this proposed entry of BBC has not met with universal acceptance. Many news organisations are already providing this service for free, while others, like The Guardian, are selling their applications. BBC’s plans of providing free apps will definitely impact their business.
Most notably, Emily Bell, the director of digital content for The Guardian has shown a marked lack of enthusiasm at the BBC’s announcement. According to Ms. Bell, since the BBC follows the policy of open competitiveness this move is not in harmony with this policy of the company. She also feels that this move will unsettle the apps market, which is still not under the umbrella of ‘broadcast media’.
The BBC, for its part, has asserted that it sees this move as an attempt to provide a service for which users have already paid and for which there is high demand.
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