BBC pledges to become ‘open platform’ for creativity

The BBC has pledged to work more closely with the UK’s arts and science institutions to “make Britain the greatest cultural force in the world”.

BBC director general Tony Hall has set out plans for the next decade, saying the corporation will become an “open BBC for the internet age”.

A children’s iPlayer and a pool of local reporters who will share work with local newspapers are also planned.

Lord Hall laid out the plans ahead of the BBC’s charter renewal in 2016.

Citing the importance of “excellence without arrogance”, he said it would not be “an expansionist BBC”.

He did warn, however, that funding cuts would mean it would “inevitably have to either close or reduce some services”, but did not specify which areas might be under threat.

New initiatives will include an Ideas Service, which Lord Hall said would be an “open online platform” featuring material from galleries, museums and universities as well as the corporation itself.

He said: “Our new, open BBC will act as a curator bringing the best from Britain’s great cultural institutions and thinkers to everyone.

“Britain has some of the greatest cultural forces in the world. We want to join with them, working alongside them, to make Britain the greatest cultural force in the world.

“We are extremely ambitious for this new service.

“Where Google’s mission is to organise the world’s information, ours in a smaller way would be to understand it. We will work with anyone who can help us understand this ever more complex world.”

Read more on the BBC website