BBC opens archives to the public

The BBC has tentatively opened its TV archive over the internet. Around 100 short clips from shows such as Walking With Beasts and Tomorrow's World have been made available for what the BBC calls "free public use in their own creative works".

BBC Radio 1 launched the scheme with a competition to produce a music video. Under the newly created Creative Archive Licence, clips may be used freely except in commercial or campaigning ways and must not be used to defame other people.

Paul Gerhardt, director of the Creative Archive Licence Group, said: "This is aimed at a young media-aware audience who are naturally tuned into the idea of content being available when they want it, and who will welcome the right to shape it to meet their needs." 

The Creative Archive Licence allows people within the UK to watch, download and edit the clips and programming for non-commercial purposes.

The clips also include more generic material such as shots of cityscapes, sunsets, seascapes and the like, all available in QuickTime, Windows Media and MPEG1 formats.

StuartGordon, senior consultant at Capgemini Telecom Media and Entertainment, said: "We've seen online music go mainstream over the past year. This move by the BBC may be the seed that the industry needs to start mainstream adoption of video content over the internet.

"This will be supported by the adoption of 3G devices this Christmas and in the new year, the new Sky, Tivo and other home gateways which are expected to support access to video content from the internet."

The British Film Insti tute, Channel 4, the Open University and Teachers' TV are also set to make more material available.