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Is "In February 2001, BBC Online incorporated Douglas Adams' previously independent h2g2 project into its group of web sites." really a worthy comment to appear on the article page - has it been a significant development for many people in their usage of bbc.co.uk? Tompagenet 16:54, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)

DNA (the system that powers h2g2) produces a significant proportion of bbc.co.uk - including h2g2, getwriting, ww2, actionnetwork - plus all the message boards. Jasoncart 22:48, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

The details of the early history given here differ from the account at http://support.bbc.co.uk/support/history.html, which says that www.bbc.co.uk went live in April 2004 and the BBC Networking Club didn't start until June in that year. 132.185.132.12 13:28, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

--Improving article-- I'm making several improvements to the article. However I want to declare a possible conflict of interest. I work for the BBC in its online dept and this should be clear when I make any of my edits. I will find references and sources for most edits... Jem 14:24, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

Jem, giving your comments it would be appropriate if you could make yourself aware of the conflict of interest guideline at Wikipedia:Conflict of interest. Cheers. Catchpole 14:35, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

I've had another look at the guidelines! . Thanks Catchpole. I've therefore decided to see if community wish to evaluate this as a better intro to the current article...

The URL bbc.co.uk is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. Currently the 4th most popular web service in the UK, it is a vast popular website including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the pre-school site Cbeebies, learning services such as Bitesize and the on demand radio player; Listen Again. The BBC has had an online presence supporting its TV and Radio programmes and web only initiatives since 1994 but didn't launch officially as BBC Online until Dec 1997 following government approval. The BBC's plans to direct licence fee revenue into what the BBC DG John Birt described as the "third medium" joining the BBC's existing TV and Radio networks required a change to the BBC Charter. Throughout its short history, the online plans of the BBC have been subject to various public consultations and government reviews illustrating concerns from commercial rivals that its large presence and public funding distorts the UK market. Its current key plan to launch free on demand TV services is awaiting final approval from the BBC's regulator; the BBC Trust.

Also currently under consideration are controversial plans to raise revenue by including advertising on BBC News pages served to non UK users. bbc.co.uk is currently freely available worldwide (via various URLs including BBCNews.com) but planned video services and a lower than expected licence fee settlement paid for by UK residents only has caused the BBC to consider ways of monetising its global popularity online. BBC Worldwide who exploit BBC brands commercially have had several attempts at launching services online including Beeb.com in the late 90s.

thoughts Jem 15:00, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

I wish someone would improve this article. Its partial, incomplete and full of errors. i'm happy to help. I work there and can point to sources. Who would like to start ?. Its a year since i suggested the opening paragraph above but nobody seems to have taken me up on my offer.

thoughts ? Jem (talk) 21:14, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] beeb.com

Something that needs correcting - beeb.com didn't merge to become BBC Online in 1998. beeb.com actually remained a commercial operation (a shopping guide) until 2002 when it closed ^[1]. It's probably worthy of its own article, rather than re-direct to Bbc.co.uk. Bods 10:36, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

--Advertising--

bbc.co.uk is now displaying advertisements for non-UK users; this needs correcting.

MondoCane75 03:35, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cult TV

The BBC cult site is being disassembled, please update —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.93.200.136 (talk)

[edit] Funding section

I have put a few citation needed tags here :

• I was under the impression that radio stations were blocked outside the UK.
• Whilst I have heard about government grants for the website, I havent seen concrete evidence of this. Is there a citation available for this?
• "It has been suggested in the past that the BBC block users outside the UK" who suggested that? Was it a recommendation of a report, an MP perhaps, a common suggestion from verifable sources? or an opinion of "Joe Bloggs"? Pit-yacker (talk) 23:52, 1 March 2008 (UTC)