BBC to show trailers and news clips on YouTube

LONDON, Mar 3 (Reuters) The BBC said it had started showing promotional trailers for new programmes and clips from old hits on Google's YouTube in a bid to reach new audiences and boost sales at its commercial arm.

News clips will be added in the near future when the output will have three strands, the publicly funded broadcaster said yesterday.

From the BBC itself there will be content based on current hits such as Life on Mars and Doctor Who, while from BBC Worldwide there will be clips from old favourites such as Spooks and Top Gear, which are sold globally.

Thirdly, around 30 news items a day will also be offered, though the advertising-funded news clips will not be available to users in Britain who pay the licence fee that funds the BBC.

The output will include specially created video diaries such as actor David Tennant taking viewers around the set of Doctor Who and reporter Clive Myrie on the streets of the red zone of Baghdad.

''It's essential that the BBC embraces new ways of reaching wider audiences with non-exclusive partnerships such as these,'' Director-General Mark Thompson said in a statement.

Reuters DH VP0435