About the BBC Feed

We’re experimenting with content for Voice

2017-10-18T07:00:00+00:00

Every so often a technology comes along that could change how we consume information, ideas and entertainment. Each time the BBC has been at the cutting edge, in big and small ways. We may be experiencing something similar again.

Over the past few years, companies such as Amazon, Apple and Google have launched ‘smart speaker’ systems — with over 10 million sold so far worldwide. These devices operate in an area we at the BBC know well: audio. You control them with your voice, and the device doesn’t just play back radio or podcasts — it also speaks back to you itself, interactively, allowing all sorts of things from internet search to using specially designed apps. As well as this, many smartphones now have a voice-assistant function. The catch-all term for these changes is ‘Voice’.

Speaking at the BBC recently, a leading digital thinker said to us that he thought Voice would transform broadcasting. He pointed out that a fifth of searches on mobile are already being spoken. But he said that what was missing now was great content from people like the BBC.

We’re on the case.

Why?

Well, it’s not just that our public purposes require us to make “innovative content”.

It’s also why we were created. The BBC was set up by wireless manufacturers to make programmes for the sets they were trying to sell. The catch-all term for these devices was ‘radio’ and the BBC was set up to provide a service for this disruptive new technology.

The BBC’s first engineer, Peter Eckersley, was also its first creative force — from a hut near Chelmsford, he used to put on evenings of entertainment. When it was opera, he used to perform the songs himself.

Some 90 years later, the CTO of the BBC isn’t an opera singer. So this time it’s a partnership between Matthew Postgate’s division, BBC Design and Engineering, and the content divisions of the BBC.

We’ve appointed a product lead, Andy Webb; whilst no opera singer, he does provide great strategic thinking for positioning the BBC in an AI-first economy and an Editor for what we are calling Experimental Voice Audio, Mukul Devichand, who previously created and ran some of BBC News’ noted digital units, BBC Trending and World Hacks. BBC News Labs have been running hacks for a while now to work out the potential of voice for news and current affairs and we aim to build on that.

What are we going to do?

In digital, we often talk about ‘crawl, walk, run’, and that’s what we’ll do here.

By Christmas, we’ll have started moving.

They’ll be more on that soon — but if you get a voice device from Santa, see what the BBC can help you do.

We’re going to find out what content works particularly well on voice devices. In the same way that streaming has made binge watching a thing, conversational devices could change both what and how we consume. At the moment, people are using the devices for basic tasks like weather, music, news — so we’ll look at those areas. It’s also potentially the first internet device that many children will be allowed to use. The BBC already does CBeebies Radio — we’ll think about how that could evolve on this new medium.

We’d expect to start testing this content next year.

Finally, we’re thinking about how Voice could transform how we inform, educate and entertain. We’re running some innovation groups and would love to work with partners who have good ideas, in both content and tech.

We’re starting with small experiments, like the one from our R&D team — Inspection Chamber — which we’ll be launching shortly — but think the potential here could be significant. We’ll keep you updated with how we get on.

Meanwhile, if you want to work with us, get in touch with me.

James Purnell is Director of Radio and Education.

Follow James Purnell on twitter.

From the R&D Blog: Responsive Radio

2015-03-16T12:15:34+00:00

Reponsive Radio on BBC Taster

Over on the BBC R&D blog Senior Engineer Matt Brooks introduces a new experiment in listener-controlled radio programmes: Responsive Radio. You can try it out on the BBC Taster website. Matt writes:

Responsive Radio is a radio documentary with one big difference: you can listen to the complete story at a length that you choose. Whether that's 12 minutes, 24 minutes, or 15 minutes and 37 seconds precisely, Responsive Radio tells you the same story, altering the amount of detail it gives you to fit in with the time you have to listen. This is made possible with a new approach to media production and delivery, which we call object-based broadcasting (OBB).

You can read the rest of Matt's post on the BBC R&D website.

The Future of TV: An explosion of choice

2014-09-09T09:55:16+00:00

As the media industry continues to change it can feel like new technology and habits are radicalising the way we watch TV. Not so long ago the choice for households was limited to four terrestrial channels and a dilemma of whether to opt for Betamax or VHS to record what was missed. But in recent years there has been an explosion of choice with countless channels to watch and the ability to catch up or watch video on demand and have TV streamed live to your tablet or phone.

For us at the BBC it’s vital we understand, and where possible anticipate, these changes so that we can continue to give audiences great programmes and services in a way that meets their needs. We recently undertook some research to delve a bit deeper into how people are watching TV. So what was the insight we got when we asked a series of questions about what people are watching, how and who with?

Firstly, despite the vast array of ways to watch, live TV remains very much dominant. BARB (Broadcasters Audience Research Board) figures tell us this (89% of TV viewing is live) but our research showed again the critical role of live television. More than eight out of 10 - 82% - of people know what they want to watch and for 76% of these it is live TV. What became clear is the reason why it’s so important and therefore enduring - it makes it easy for us all to connect to the world around us and because we like familiarity.

Most of the time – again 82% - that people sit down to watch video of any variety they know what it is that they want to watch. Even if they don’t know what they want to watch, they most often try to find something familiar. Whether people are watching linear TV, their personal video recorder or video on demand (VOD), when people don’t know what to watch, 41% look for something familiar compared to 13% who look for something new.

That isn’t to say though that on demand isn’t important. It’s a fantastic supplement to live television and for audiences the two sit happily in combination. Our research showed that of all viewing occasions across any device, 3% were on free video on demand such as BBC iPlayer.

We also looked at how people choose what they want to watch when they don’t know. The dominant rule is that people check the TV guide first (around two thirds), then go to the personal video recorder, then check on-demand and then subscription on demand such as Netflix.

No matter what people end up watching, our research showed that 89% of all viewing is on the main TV. For those without a traditional TV it seems the bigger device the better with 57% choosing to watch on a laptop, 6% on a tablet and 2% on a mobile.

So in some ways, our viewing habits may not have changed as radically as some have suggested. Just look at the millions who tuned in on Sunday to see Strictly. But that’s not to say that things aren’t changing – and that’s one of the challenges the BBC will face in making sure it remains relevant as we head towards Charter Review.

Young people - 16-24 year olds – do watch TV differently. 75% know what they want to watch and when they do 10% go straight to video on demand and 3% to subscription video on demand. If they don’t know what to watch 9% go to free video on demand such as iPlayer and 2% go straight to subscription VOD such as Netflix. So this younger group do watch video on demand more – and other online options such as YouTube. Even then, live TV hasn’t disappeared altogether – it remains important because when they know what to they want to watch, 59% watch live. Will these habits continue as this group ages? The truth is no one knows.

So yes, viewing habits of young people are changing. For other groups, maybe the way we watch TV isn’t as different to 10 or 20 years ago as some would have you think – though I suspect few would be bold enough to predict we’ll be saying the same in another 10 years. The challenge we at the BBC face is making sure we can meet the needs of our audiences whatever their viewing preferences – great content on your TV at the same time as we make sure we’re bringing the wonders of new technology to audiences, with more ways than ever to watch and listen.

The research comprised of 2,606 online interviews. A representative sample of 61 households also allowed cameras into their homes to track what they watched, how and with whom.

Margo Swadley is Head of Audiences for Television

BarCamp? What's a BarCamp?

2011-09-22T13:15:40+00:00

Last weekend we did something a bit different at the BBC. On Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September we hosted the BBC's first ever BarCamp, in our northern home at MediaCityUK.

'What's a BarCamp?' I hear you cry. Well, it's been described as many things from an 'un-conference' to a 'catered conversation'. But really BarCamp is all about the ideas. People came to BBC North for this event buzzing with new ideas around technology, future media and a range of different interests including gaming, social media and... country music.

Right off the bat I felt that our new creative hub at MediaCityUK could provide BarCamp-ers with the perfect venue. So we opened up the spaces and brand new facilities in BBC Quay House to over 200 participants for a weekend of discussions, demos and interaction. No running order, no set agenda - just a big empty 'grid' of 20-minute slots where attendees could post their ideas to present a session over the course of two days. Highlights included: Should we Teach Computer Programming to Schoolchildren?; Tips to Build a 3D Scanner and even a debate on 'How to be Happy'.

@mcrbeacon
Manchester Beacon Video, pics, slides from #bcmcuk session on using social media to help the homeless: http://ow.ly/6xxi7 #mcrbeacon
Sep 18 via HootSuite FavoriteRetweetReply

@PopCultureHound
Chris J. Thompson Great session on #digitalcomics at #bcmcuk today. Interesting to hear different perspectives/approaches to it. How do you like your comics?
Sep 18 via Twitter for Android FavoriteRetweetReply

@MysticMobile
Paul Coulton Thanks for nice feedback for my gamification talk at #bcmcuk #barcampmediacity heres the long version of the slides http://t.co/PUBeeqi0
Sep 17 via webFavorite RetweetReply

@dialogconnectio
DialogCONNECTION Ltd @BarCampMCUK here's my speech recognition blog: http://t.co/1OQpzqpB #bcmcuk
Sep 17 via TweetDeck FavoriteRetweetReply

We were supported by seasoned BarCamp team Geeks of London and the wonderful Manchester Girl Geeks who did a fantastic job encouraging women to attend the activities. In fact, it was one of the largest BarCamps ever held in the UK.

Of course we paused the sessions for regular food and drink intake, plus the obligatory 7.10pm mass screening of Doctor Who on BBC One, with popcorn! As the evening drew on the games began. There were marathon X-box games, PowerPoint Karaoke and rounds of the parlour game 'Werewolf'. In the early hours people left to catch a few hours sleep and some - christened the 'magnificent overnight 7' - even pulled an all-nighter. Many returned for another round of innovative sessions on the Sunday.

At BBC North our aim is to find new ways of working and it's events like BarCamp that will really help the BBC become a more open and collaborative organisation. We were proud to host the BBC's first BarCamp and judging from the feedback, it's the kind of thing we should be doing more of.

@hashpointfive
Shaf Choudry 1st BarCamp and had a brilliant time, thanks to @cubicgarden and all for organising a memorable event. Met tonnes of cool people #bcmcuk
Sep 18 via webFavorite RetweetReply

@janetrimmer
Jane Trimmer Barcamp MediaCityUK #bcmcuk was BRILLIANT! Thanks to all who organised it. Hope it'll be a repeat event.
Sep 18 via webFavorite RetweetReply

Ian Forrester is a Senior Producer in BBC Research & Development, BBC North Lab

More about the first BBC BarCamp from Ian on the BBC R&D blog.

New digs for BBC R&D in the North

2011-07-28T13:48:51+00:00

Over the years BBC Research & Development has hit many a milestone. Even before the department's official beginnings in 1930 it had been involved with the creation and delivery of some of the most significant and game-changing innovations in broadcasting - and this level of engineering creativity is the department's raison d'Ãªtre.

R&D's tremendous technology track record includes; enabling the first colour transatlantic TV transmission in 1962, the World's first ever demo of digital stereo audio recording in 1971 and believe it or not it helped to create the first ever high definition film broadcast by the BBC - The Ginger Tree back in 1989.

The department has created these innovations from a few different homes over the years but it's in the last decade that some of its number have made their biggest move - and the move was North. By October 2009 five R&D trail blazers had left the South Labs and moved to Manchester. These five engineers followed in the footsteps of three even more intrepid explorers who had scoped out the region and had established an advanced R&D presence which kicked off back in 2006 - you can't say R&D aren't thorough in their investigations... The new North team then made do with a snug corner of BBC Manchester Oxford Road's buildings while they waited for the completion of their brand new R&D lab at MediaCityUK.

Now, though they are all moved in and have made their presence known with a bang! On 13th June the first R&D North staff had their feet under their new desks and from 2nd - 17th July some of the team were showcasing their Virtual Maestro prototype (designed to explore novel forms of user interaction) to audiences at the Manchester International Festival.

The team are pretty excited about their new home and know that having a base in the North will hugely benefit its partnerships and the collaborative projects it undertakes with companies, indies and universities right across the North, indeed the recent announcement of the BBC Audio Research Partnership working with the University of Salford among others is a prime example. So, now they have settled in at MediaCityUK they want to take this opportunity to introduce themselves. Tony Churnside's shot this whistle-stop tour of the new lab on his mobile and, on the R&D blog, you'll get a more in-depth video introduction to the department and even more insight into their North HQ.

Steve Bowbrick is editor of About the BBC

Brendan Crowther has written a post for the R&D blog - with another video - about the move.
Learn more on the BBC R&D web site and on the BBC North web site.

Where does your local BBC get its news?

2011-04-19T10:40:00+00:00

For many in the newspaper industry, and in particular the local press, the suspicion is that the BBC's Deep Throat is picking up a copy of the local paper.

It's a suggestion repeated fairly frequently and usually without much challenge. So what's the actual evidence?

Six months ago, the BBC and the Newspaper Society, the body that represents regional publishers, decided to work together to find out. The agreed method was simple. Monitor news in one area for a month then look at the stories that overlapped and trace them back to their source. Northamptonshire was chosen. It has two strong evening papers and a weekly run by Johnston Press. The BBC is not unusually well-resourced there.

This was a joint project, but I did most of the evidence gathering. Allowing for that and the fact there is bound to be some margin for error the picture we found was so clear that both the BBC and the newspaper managing director, who represented the Newspaper Society, agreed that the devil was not in the detail. What did we find? Local newspapers remain overwhelmingly the major publisher of local news and information.

Every day the two daily newspapers in Northamptonshire each publish more than four times as many stories as the BBC local radio station. Every day each paper publishes more stories than BBC Look East did in the entire month long period. Online, newspapers are also the volume provider with the two daily papers publishing 435 news stories and the BBC delivering 73.

Radio carried the vast bulk of BBC material, there were around 400 stories broadcast by BBC Radio Northampton in this period. Of those around 250 overlapped with those carried by the papers. Some overlap is inevitable. Snow and Remembrance Day events generated programmes on radio and reams of newspaper coverage. Media overlap, but on its own that tells you nothing about the source.

Publishing a story first is also not automatically the answer. A story about a poppy seller being spat at ran first on BBC Radio Northampton after he walked into the office. It was the front page lead in the paper next day and was extensively followed by national papers during the next week. But it wasn't lifted from the radio, he talked to everyone.

Around 20-30 stories looked like they might have originated from the papers. After checking that figure came down to 11. So from around 4,000 stories in the papers and around 400 on the radio just 11 stories were sourced by reading the paper. All those stories were then checked out by the BBC. Just five were hard news - job losses the paper heard about first, that sort of thing. The papers' news editors were clear, they listen to the radio and would have chased anything significant they had missed.

But if volume is not the issue, what about agenda setting? The front page seemed the obvious place to look. The two daily papers had 44 front-page leads, the BBC didn't carry 24 of them. In 22 relevant Evening Telegraph editions, 6 leads were also covered by the BBC. Two reflected bad weather and three were clearly diary or items from publicly available meetings.

The subject of the Northampton Chronicle & Echo front-page lead was aired on the BBC on 14 occasions. Seven of those would have been on all newsrooms diaries and a further five were from some form of press release. Only one was clearly a newspaper exclusive. If the BBC is devoted to following the papers' news agenda it's not doing it very well.

Simply counting stories also ignores significant differences in treatments. Holding the county's key public bodies to account or reporting on what they do gets greater prominence proportionately on the BBC in the way you might expect from a public service broadcaster.

There were also important differences in the nature and treatment of stories that a simple total of items conceals. The BBC station has a broader county remit and tends to be more interested in regional stories. That also reflects the broader editorial view that the station believes is right for its audience whilst the newspapers focused on being hyper-local by BBC standards.

In all the arguments about the BBC's impact in local markets it's easy to forget that the BBC's role can also be positive. The BBC supported on-air and participated in a key Evening Chronicle campaign in this period - 'Strictly Chron Dancing'

Beginning to transform all of this is the sheer amount of material on various forms of social media. The Northampton Chronicle's Daniel Owens writes a cracking column about how news works. He's clear what a difference social media is making, charting five to six stories a week which are picked up from social networking sites, available to all online users.

To sum up. Newspaper journalists listen to the radio and would not hesitate to follow up a story they had missed. Radio journalists read newspapers. This one month period probably favoured the BBC because it coincided with an editorially ambitious BBC initiative across England 'Living Longer' which aimed to really understand the issues facing an increasingly elderly population.

But forget the actual figures. Double, treble, quadruple them. The key thing we found is that neither side is dependent on the other.

Many stories do the rounds citing who lifts what from whom and there are some examples from both broadcast and print media of material being lifted and used unchecked and uncredited, but what this survey shows is that there's a lot less of it around than anecdotal evidence suggests.

Papers and radio co-exist and even work together. There's another England here, often fiercely proud of the place we live, generous to charity, supportive of each other, still shocked by the sort of crime that Midsomer would not blink at.

In the end somewhere is local to all of us. For the overwhelming majority it's a better place, too often hidden behind the national headlines. These are really strong content rich local papers, facing a multitude of threats to their revenue and therefore to their robust local journalism. But where you live is also a better place because of the strength and diversity of the local media. Without it we are all the poorer.

Tim Bishop is Head of Regional and Local Programmes at BBC East. He has been an evening newspaper editor, as well as a television and radio editor

Download Tim's research as a PDF.
There's a hashtag for discussion of Tim's research: #BBCLocalContent.
Pictures of newsagents from The Global Shopfront Library. Some rights reserved.