BBC Trust

The BBC Trust has today announced a new review of BBC Online and BBC Red Button.

BBC Online was last reviewed in 2008 and Red Button in 2010. This time the process will be more focused, looking at how the services are meeting the objectives set for them by the last reviews, how well they are serving their audiences and how they have adapted to changes in technology, media and audience behaviour.

To help the Trust with this, a public consultation has been launched and views will be welcomed from members of the public who use these services, as well as relevant organisations and stakeholders.

BBC Trustee Suzanna Taverne, who is leading the review, said:

“The BBC's digital offer is constantly evolving – last time we examined BBC Online, the now firmly-established iPlayer did not even exist – so it is particularly important to review these services regularly.

“We know that what Digital achieved at the Olympic Games was just the beginning, and the BBC's online and red button services will become even more important in future. I am keen for this review to ensure that these service licences are fit for purpose and give them the space to develop and innovate in order to continue meeting  licence fee payers' needs and expectations.”

The review is the first in the Trust's second five-year cycle of reviews, during which time it will examine how well all BBC services are meeting the terms of their service licences.

BBC Online operates in an ever-changing medium, so the review will seek to ensure the service is continuing to meet audience expectations as it evolves to incorporate changes in technology and audience habits.

The Red Button service is currently undergoing changes as a result of the BBC's Delivering Quality First savings strategy. The review will seek to ensure Red Button's service licence will reflect the future scope of the service.

The BBC Trust will make any necessary amendments to these service licences at the end of the review process

The public consultation into BBC Online and Red Button will be open until 23 January, 2013 and can be found here.

ENDS

 Notes to editors:

1) Under the terms of the BBC's Charter and Agreement, the Trust is responsible for issuing service licences for the BBC's UK public services. These service licences include the remit of the service, the key requirements necessary to meet the remit and ensure the BBC's public purposes are delivered, and headline budget. The Trust must carry out a full review of each BBC service which has a service licence at least once every five years and consult publicly.

2) The last review of BBC Online in 2008 found that it was an excellent service, highly valued by users and meeting the majority of its service licence commitments. Potential for improvement was identified in the internal search and navigation features of the BBC's websites, meeting audience expectations of open dialogue, and linking to external sites. The Trust's full report can be read here.

3) The last review of Red Button in 2010 concluded that the service was widely-used, with digital text and live events bringing in the largest audiences. The review recognised that the future development of the service would need to take into account many changing factors including the cost savings required by DQF. The full report can be read here.