BBC to offer audio, video in online archive

Millions of hours of radio, TV and film records will be available online for free download after the BBC announced the launch of its Creative Archive License scheme. "The Creative Archive License provides a unique solution to one of the key challenges of rights in the digital age, allowing us to increase the public value of our archives by giving people the chance to use video and audio material for their own non-commercial purposes," said Mark Thompson, BBC general director. The BBC also developed a Creative Archive site that will inform users when new material is added to the archive. Natural history and educational programs will be the first items to be made available, starting this summer. The BBC hopes the archive will "fuel creativity" by allowing people to use the audio and video in their personal projects and creations.