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BBC and ITV's BritBox streaming service launches in the UK
With the popularity of British TV shows in the US, the launch of the BritBox streaming service in 2017 was an attempt by UK broadcasters to cash in on the streaming wave. ITV, the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 banded together to offer content through a single BritBox subscription, though it was originally only available on the other side of the pond. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the service was finally coming to the UK, and now it's arrived.
BBC fights censorship by launching news site on the dark web
Government censorship of the internet is an issue in many countries, with officials blocking websites for hosting content which is critical of administrations or that includes unflattering news stories. The BBC is fighting back against such restrictions by making a mirror of its international news website available on the dark web, where it can be viewed using the Tor browser.
BBC winds down its in-house VR production team
After two years, the BBC is shutting VR Hub production division. In a lengthy blog post, the UK public broadcaster announced that it plans to produce one last virtual reality experience called Missing Pictures before winding down the unit.
The BBC and Netflix team up for new David Attenborough nature documentary
Set aside a weekend to lie on the couch and gawp at the wonder of our natural world, because David Attenborough is making another documentary series exploring the fascinating lives of animals.
BBC's smart keyboard helps kids live healthy digital lives
The BBC wants to help kids have healthy and positive interactions online, and it's hoping its new Own It app will do just that. The app is centered around a keyboard that pops up whenever a user begins to type. If the message is negative, the app can offer support, give advice and recommend talking to a trusted adult.
BBC, tech giants will fight fake news with an 'early warning system'
Tech companies know disinformation remains a major threat, and they're forming an alliance with a media giant to help fight the online spread of falsehoods. The BBC has partnered with Facebook, Google and Twitter on a strategy to fight fake news and other disinformation campaigns. The effort will include an "early warning system" that lets organizations tell each other when they find false content that "threatens human life or disrupts democracy." Ideally, this helps companies quickly neuter disinformation before it has much of a chance to spread.
What we're listening to: Surfbort and 'Kermode and Mayo's Film Review'
In the September installment of our audio IRL, contributing writer Christine Fisher praises "one of New York's last (only?) great punk bands," and contributing writer Kris Holt tells us why a BBC film podcast deserves a listen.
The BBC is developing its own voice assistant called 'Beeb'
Smart speakers may be getting more and more popular, but there's an issue continuing to hold them back -- voice assistants still have problems understanding accents. This is particularly true in Britain, which despite its small geographic size has a broad range of accents.
BBC to pull all radio services from TuneIn UK
The BBC is becoming pickier about how its many listeners access its award-winning radio programs. TuneIn announced that the British broadcaster was pulling its domestic streams from its service, effective August 30th. The change will only impact UK listeners of live radio streams and won't effect BBC Podcasts. The BBC's departure from TuneIn is just one of many recent actions it's taken this year to control how listeners consume its content. Earlier this year, the BBC left Google's Podcast app and Assistant because the search giant was only directing users to its own listening platform.
Google puts playable podcast episodes in Search
Google continues its push into the world of podcasts, not only through its own podcast app but also by adding a new podcast feature to search.
'Doctor Who' will be an HBO Max streaming exclusive in the US
Finding the shows you want to stream is about to get more complicated in the coming months as some big-name companies launch their own services to take on the likes of Hulu and Netflix. Among them is WarnerMedia, and when HBO Max arrives next spring, you may have to start using that platform if you're a Whovian eager for your Time Lord fix.
BBC and ITV streaming service BritBox is finally coming to the UK
BritBox, the streaming service from two of Britain's largest broadcasters, will finally launch in the UK by the end of 2019. The service, a partnership between the BBC and ITV, will be priced at £5.99 ($7.50) a month, offering HD video across multiple screens and devices. BritBox will not only be a repository for UK TV content, it'll also commission new and original shows just for subscribers.
Apple may be working with the BBC on a comedy-drama series
Apple has been snapping up big-name talents left, right and center as it gears up for the launch of Apple TV+. The likes of Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Octavia Spencer, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell and Kumail Nanjiani are making shows and movies for the upcoming streaming platform. Apple seems to have added another instantly recognizable name to the mix in the form of the BBC.
Play 'Doctor Who: The Edge of Time' in VR this September
While you can't warp time to see the twelfth season of Doctor Who any sooner, this September, you'll be able to dive into the show in a new way. BBC Studios is bringing the series to life as a VR video game, Doctor Who: The Edge of Time. This is the second recent VR interpretation of the classic -- earlier this month BBC released The Runaway, a short animated VR film. And it could be yet another consolation for fans who are eagerly awaiting the next season, set to air in early 2020.
BBC releases free ‘Doctor Who’ VR short
Doctor Who fans who can't bear the long wait for the twelfth season are in for a treat. The BBC has released Doctor Who: The Runaway, an animated short VR film based on the classic British sci-fi series and voiced by its own Jodie Whittaker, who reprises her role as the show's time-traveling protagonist. Based on the BBC's description, The Runaway throws you into the topsy-turvy universe of Doctor Who right away. You wake up inside the TARDIS after being in a collision with a teenage space bomb named the Volta. In a race against time, you and Doctor Who must get Volta home to his parents before he falls prey to some dangerous distractions.
BBC Music is available in the US, but only on the web
The BBC is finally sharing its BBC Music site with audiences in the US. As of today, its trove of music reporting -- across radio, TV and the web -- as well as artist performances from Radio 1's Live Lounge are available stateside. That includes clips of Ariana Grande, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift and the Foo Fighters that were previously restricted to the UK.
Discovery streaming service will be the main home for BBC nature shows
Discovery is widening the scope of its streaming service plans, although it might not be great news for nature buffs. The network has unveiled a deal with BBC Studios that will see the BBC's history, nature and science documentaries form one of the "pillars" of a Discovery streaming service due to launch by 2020. On top of that, the service will be the exclusive streaming home for BBC nature docs outside of the UK, Ireland and China, including series like Blue Planet, Life and Planet Earth -- it's not clear what will happen with existing titles on sites like Netflix, but you might not want to count on them sticking around.
BBC removes its shows from Google's Podcasts app
If you search for BBC programs on the Google Podcasts app or through Assistant, you might get a handful of results at most -- or none at all -- instead of the dozens you'd usually get in the past. The broadcaster has pulled its offerings from the app after the tech giant altered its search function to direct viewers to its own service instead of BBC Sounds and other third-party services.
What we're listening to in March: Star Wars and 'Keeping the Rave Alive'
We've been listening to a lot over the past month, but two items stand out. Managing Editor James Trew discusses DJ Kutski's podcast, and Social Media Producer Michael Morris discovers an expanded audio version of the classic Star Wars films.
British broadcasters are teaming up to launch a Netflix rival... again
The BBC and ITV, Britain's two largest broadcasters, are hoping to launch a homegrown rival to Netflix in the UK. BritBox, which is already available in the US and Canada, would bring a huge amount of otherwise unavailable archive content to subscribers. In a statement, the BBC said that the pair is working on a proposal and hopes other broadcasters will look to get involved. And, if regulators approve, the service could launch in the UK as early as the back half of 2019.
