BC is closing a string of successful websites to reinvest the money in projects that have a clearer public service focus. In an interview with the Guardian, the BBC director of new media and technology, Ashley Highfield, said that he was planning to save �6 million, a tenth of the corporation�s annual online spend, by closing sites that cost too much and aped commercial rivals. Among the sites closed will be one devoted to US sport, and one on local history deemed poor value for money.

A cult TV and film site devoted to shows such as The Simpsons and Buffy will be pruned to concentrate on upcoming BBC shows such as Dr Who. And the funding for the wide-ranging BBC Lifestyle site, which covers everything from parenting to antiques, will also be cut substantially. On its network of Where I Live sites, the BBC will promise to reduce duplication and work more closely with online rivals such as regional newspapers.... more