The BBC’s plan to unveil a new sports and news iPhone application has upset many market players.
While the iPhone application is slated to be released in April, the Corporation has no plans limit itself to just this service. It is eyeing a larger share in the digital market as it is also slated to come up with new apps for Google’s Android platform and BlackBerry handsets. The BBC’s move has been prompted by the growing consumer interest in using the latest and fast handheld devices such as smartphones to access online content.
Not all news providers are celebrating this news. Many fear the use of BBC’s free apps will outrun those apps that are being sold by organisations like The Guardian. The British news market is highly competitive and news organisations are constantly looking for innovative methods to sell content and these free apps will definitely adversely affect the players who require that subscribers pay for the apps.
The director of digital content at The Guardian, Emily Bell, stated they were not at all excited to hear of the BBC’s plans. She said the BBC wanting to enter the news and sports apps market was quite understandable but their idea of launching free applications would harm the competition in the market, and in fact disturb the market at this stage.
The BBC has responded to this statement by maintaining that it is only seeking to provide audiences with content they have already paid for at a place and time of their choice.
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