BBC Plans Online Virtual World For Kids

BBC networks' children's channel, CBBC says it plans to build an online children's world, something on the lines of virtual world, Second Life. Representatives of BBC say, it will give children a chance to move around a safe, secure world where they can not only interact with familiar characters but have an opportunity to make that world a more fascinating place with their own imaginations. They said the site will not have the financial aspects of other online worlds such as Second Life.

The venture, targeted at children between 7 and 12 will allow users to build an online presence, known as an avatar, then create and share content. However, the emphasis would be on safety and responsibility, with no chatrooms or facilities for building new parts of the virtual world. The website is expected to go live in the summer with a full launch in October, to coincide with the CBBC relaunch.

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Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports about BBC's tie-in with Google-owned video sharing site, YouTube, are doing the rounds. News reports say that BBC is in advanced negotiations with Google, to make its programs available on YouTube, while BBC Worldwide is reportedly looking at commercial options for the agreement, such as a share on contextual advertising that will run alongside BBC content. According to the reports, BBC will use Google Video as a vehicle to popularize its content by posting clips of popular programming.

The two companies are expected to announce the agreement to coincide with a trip by the Google chief executive, Eric Schmidt, to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday.