BBC unveils new homepage

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 14 Dec 2007 at 11:03

The BBC is relaunching its homepage to celebrate the 10th anniversary of BBC online (although, oddly, internet archives suggest the BBC has had an online presence since at least 1994).

The new site - which has been launched in beta version today - allows users to customise the topics and features that appear on the front page, providing easier access to relevant information.

The page is made of widgets that can be individually moved and customised, as in Google's personalised portal, iGoogle.

Widgets are provided for sports, news, blogs and other site features and can be arranged in any way the reader sees fit. TV and radio listings are also included in separate widgets, which allow all BBC channels and stations to be browsed directly from the main site. Readers can also listen to radio stations without leaving the front page.

"These exciting developments mark an important stage in the work the BBC is doing to aggregate content more effectively and give users more control over how they experience bbc.co.uk," says Tony Ageh, controller of internet at the BBC.

"Enabling users to organise components of the homepage around the subjects that are most important to them increases its value and relevance, while still remaining a powerful expression of the BBC on the internet."