(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickr

The BBC is to launch a site that encourages users to take part in their new science show Bang Goes the Theory, NMA reports. By getting viewers to ask scientific questions, they hope to offer content that talks to their audiences concerns - tackling the usual complaint that science shows are either inaccessible or patronising. It's a wise move, given that these will be early-adopters, and also under-served in an online environment which promises information at their fingertips, but has struggled to match 'laymen' with experts.

This continues a trend towards 'soft-learning', where edutainment programming shies away from school-lesson style one-directional speeches, and enters a far more two-way, communicative realm.

Check it out next month!

(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickr

The BBC's Simon Nelson (controller of multiplatform) has announced the corporation's intention to step up its web-only provision, rather than ploughing money primarily into programme support micro-sites, as has been the case in the past. With the aim of creating more content that 'doesn't need a tv', that means we should be seeing more stand-alone and essentially-interactive propositions.

There's been some great work towards this from the BBC in the past - Endemol's Signs of Life springs immediately to mind - but much of the BBC's content and views come from the obvious contenders: news and programme-support. Building a reputation as somewhere to go for new content that isn't associated with their tv or radio output won't be easy, but in these times the BBC, with its guaranteed revenue, certainly stands to make a big impact both within the UK and around the world.

(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickr

Big news (geddit?) as BBC releases new version of iPlayer, including programming in HD resolutions for the first time. The new service, available both as a streaming version and with the out-of-beta Adobe Air-based download version, allows (some) programming to be watched online in HD for the first time. For many viewers this will be the first opportunity to see BBC programming in the larger format. Though beware, your mileage may vary as HD video can be very processor and graphics-card intensive, so you might not have a computer - let alone a fast enough connection - to take full advantage.

It just shows how far internet video has come, that it has caught up with the latest broadcast technology - and hints to a future where you'll go online for the highest quality, and over-the-air broadcast will be the fallback for the last generation of viewing. Internet-enabled televisions to the ready!

(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickr

The BBC Trust has lifted its 10 month spending freeze on bbc.co.uk - administered as punishment after the Beeb's online arm managed to massively overspend last year. It has also approved a £30m increase in the annual budget - presumably in acknowledgement of the value of the corporations web activities - in order to prevent this happening again.

ITN has already complained that the Trust has failed to see the distorting impact of Auntie's activities in the area, and suggested that it's trying to destroy ITN's business model. Good news, however, for (some) independents seeking funding for exciting web projects, and also for innovation as a whole, as the BBC has frequently produced ground-breaking in-house productions, frequently of the kind that wouldn't fly commercially but have great public value.

Broadcast has the scoop.

(cc) by spaceodissey/flickrThe Past: What was Kangaroo? Project Kangaroo was (a codename for) a proposed service offered by a joint venture company formed by BBC Worldwide (the BBC's commercial arm), ITV and Channel 4, in order to deliver a next-generation online VOD platform. Similar in function to the BBC iPlayer, and likely to rely on the same technology as its foundation, it would have allowed these players, and others that joined up on a more ad hoc basis, to commercialise their catalogue programming. It would be financed by subscription, pay per view, advertising, or a combination of these, direct from the consumer. In the case of the BBC, this would happen only after the end of the seven-day 'catch-up' window during which programmes are free to view on iPlayer. It is thought that Channel 4 had intended to close its own service, 4oD (4 on Demand), though it seems likely that ITV would continue to use ITV.com as a destination site, including its own videos.

(cc) by-sa IDS.photos/flickrPedigree dog show Crufts is to move online, after the annual tv event was cancelled by the BBC over allegations of cruelty towards the animals and fears over the effects of inbreeding. The Guardian reports that Sunset+Vine will be creating the webstream, which will be free to access, with full coverage from the start on Thursday.

Overall, the web seems a sensible home for the show - with a niche, but passionate audience, and one that in future might well be happy to pay subscriptions, as well as being the perfect audience for relevant advertising. Pedigree Chum, anyone?

(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickrNew Media Age reports that the BBC Trust has begun consultation about Project Canvas - a mooted BBC development to create an open platform for online video available to all (UK?) broadcasters.

Comparisons are being drawn with Project Kangaroo, but the connection is only loose - indications are that this platform would not include the apparatus for commercialisation, though nothing suggests other broadcasters would be unable to add these to the offering; it all depends on how the project develops.

It's early days, but they have gone to the Trust first, whose job it is to determine whether such a development would be in the interests of the Licence Fee Payers - though there's nothing to stop the Competition Commission, who ultimately sunk Kangaroo, from entering the fray as well.