BBC’s global website to carry ads

Taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/

BBC's global website to carry ads

Advertising will appear on the BBC News website for users outside the UK, the corporation's commercial arm says.

BBC Worldwide says advertising will generate new income for the BBC, which needs to plug a £2bn budget shortfall.

The BBC argues that overseas readers, who do not pay the licence fee, should contribute towards the costs.

However, critics say commercialisation will undermine the editorial integrity of the BBC and is a slippery slope towards privatisation.

BBC Worldwide says the advertising will be introduced on popular web pages but did not say when the first adverts will be carried.

Adverts currently appear on the BBC World television channel, which cannot be seen in the UK, and were recently introduced on the international website's video content.

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