BBC, Microsoft Talk Digital

British Broadcasting Corp. and Microsoft MSFT signed a nonexclusive memorandum of understanding to "define the framework within which the companies can explore opportunities for the delivery and consumption of BBC content and the evolution of next-generation broadcasting."

Areas of potential investigation and collaboration include search and navigation, distribution, and content enablement.

BBC director General Mark Thompson and director of new media and technology Ashley Highfield met Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates to officially sign the memorandum of understanding and discuss the BBC's digital strategy. This includes plans for its online archive, for a radically re-invented Web site in the Web 2.0 world -- a second generation of Internet-based services -- and for ways to share its online content in the future.

"We are currently witnessing unprecedented rates of change in technology and audience expectations," Thompson said. "To ensure that the BBC is able to embrace the creative challenges of the digital future, we need to forge strategic partnerships with technology companies and distributors for the benefit of licence payers."

"Microsoft's strength is in driving digital innovation, and our vision is to open up rich, new consumer experiences that allow people to enjoy digital content anytime, anywhere and on any device," Gates said. "This vision fits squarely with the BBC's charter to lead the industry in delivering content that is compelling and accessible. I'm delighted that we're taking this important step, and I look forward to working together to develop new models for content delivery and consumption."