BBC axes failing websites

Governors at the BBC have responded to a recent government review of the corporation's internet publishing, promising to axe websites in a market that has "now reached relative maturity".

The plans to change bbc.co.uk include added emphasis on offering value for licence fee payers via a so-called Public Value Test.

The corporation issued a statement describing how some websites faced closure after failing the test.

"After applying the principles of the Public Value Test some sites that did not add sufficient public value have already closed and further closures will be announced before Christmas," it said.

The money saved from these closures will be reinvested in bbc.co.uk projects "more closely aligned to the BBC's core purposes".

BBC chairman Michael Grade described the broadcaster's revised remit for bbc.co.uk, which was submitted to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell at the end of October.

"The BBC has played a key role in driving adoption of the web and in the evolution of the vibrant online market that we have stimulated," said Grade.

"We are very proud of that. But this market has now reached relative maturity, and a different approach is needed.

"Today we are publishing new, much more tightly drawn objectives. They focus on how bbc.co.uk can be made more distinctive, and deliver more public value in this developing and growing market."

Another change instigated by the review will see the introduction of a more systematic and comprehensive approach to linking from bbc.co.uk to external sites, with revised guidelines for content producers on linking to, syndicating to and from, and generally working with, third-party content.

The BBC also promised improved access to its content by opening up the corporation's archives.