BBC Online, formerly known as BBCi, is the BBC's online service. It is
a large network of websites including such high-profile sites as BBC
News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC
iPlayer, the children's sites CBBC and CBeebies, and learning services
such as Bitesize. The BBC has had an online presence supporting its TV
and radio programmes and web-only initiatives since April 1994, but
did not launch officially until 28 April 1997, following government
approval to fund it by TV licence fee revenue as a service in its own
right. Throughout its history, the online plans of the BBC have been
subject to competition and complaint from its commercial rivals, which
has resulted in various public consultations and government reviews to
investigate their claims that its large presence and public funding
distorts the UK market.The website has gone through several branding
changes since it was launched. Originally named BBC Online, it was
then rebranded as BBCi (which itself was the brand name for
interactive TV services) before being named bbc.co.uk. It was then
renamed BBC Online again in 2008, however the service uses the
branding "BBC". The web-based service of the BBC is one of the most
visited websites (55th most visited according to Alexa in January
2013) and the world's largest news website. As of 2007[update], it
contained over two million pages.On 26 February 2010 The Times claimed
that Mark Thompson, then Director General of the BBC, proposed that
the BBC's web output should be cut by 50%, with online staff numbers
and budgets reduced by 25% in a bid to scale back BBC operations and
allow commercial rivals more room. On 2 March 2010, the BBC reported
that it will cut its website spending by 25% and close BBC 6 Music and
Asian Network. On 24 January 2011, the confirmed cuts of 25% were
announced leaving a £34 million shortfall. This resulted in the
closure of several sites, including BBC Switch, BBC Blast, 6-0-6, and
the announcement of plans to sell on the Douglas Adams created site
h2g2.
a large network of websites including such high-profile sites as BBC
News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC
iPlayer, the children's sites CBBC and CBeebies, and learning services
such as Bitesize. The BBC has had an online presence supporting its TV
and radio programmes and web-only initiatives since April 1994, but
did not launch officially until 28 April 1997, following government
approval to fund it by TV licence fee revenue as a service in its own
right. Throughout its history, the online plans of the BBC have been
subject to competition and complaint from its commercial rivals, which
has resulted in various public consultations and government reviews to
investigate their claims that its large presence and public funding
distorts the UK market.The website has gone through several branding
changes since it was launched. Originally named BBC Online, it was
then rebranded as BBCi (which itself was the brand name for
interactive TV services) before being named bbc.co.uk. It was then
renamed BBC Online again in 2008, however the service uses the
branding "BBC". The web-based service of the BBC is one of the most
visited websites (55th most visited according to Alexa in January
2013) and the world's largest news website. As of 2007[update], it
contained over two million pages.On 26 February 2010 The Times claimed
that Mark Thompson, then Director General of the BBC, proposed that
the BBC's web output should be cut by 50%, with online staff numbers
and budgets reduced by 25% in a bid to scale back BBC operations and
allow commercial rivals more room. On 2 March 2010, the BBC reported
that it will cut its website spending by 25% and close BBC 6 Music and
Asian Network. On 24 January 2011, the confirmed cuts of 25% were
announced leaving a £34 million shortfall. This resulted in the
closure of several sites, including BBC Switch, BBC Blast, 6-0-6, and
the announcement of plans to sell on the Douglas Adams created site
h2g2.
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