The BBC is expected to rationalise its policy for the syndication of catch-up content when new guidelines are published by the BBC Trust early in 2011. The timetable was set out as part of the Trust’s Strategic Review that also called on the corporation to provide high quality, distinctive content.
Provisional conclusions that will be subject to further consultation are expected to propose that full length BBC television content is made available only in aggregate form, for example through BBC iPlayer, and not programme by programme.
In line with the current set of syndication guidelines, originally published in August 2007, the BBC iPlayer itself will remain available across a broad range of devices and platforms.
The new guidelines are expected to prevent individual operators and sites cherry-picking elements of BBC content to ensure they are not shown out of context or in a way that would damage the BBC brand. The BBC plans to the release a set of standard versions and prohibit self-build by third parties.
An earlier consultation by the Trust, following proposals by the BBC Executive, closed in July 2010.
