Crazy_Fool - 2:26 am on Mar 5, 2002 (gmt 0)

well i had my first hit yesterday from the BBC web search so i went and checked it out ... entering something in the search box opens a page where you select results from the BBC, from the WWW and a couple of other options. choosing WWW gave me google UK results by default.

with loads of engines moving to paid spidering and PPC, searchers don't always get the most suitable results for their search enquiries. the BBC is a broadcaster and is in a position to heavily promote it's own search service very easily. tied in with google UK results, it is in a potentially very strong position to provide relevant search results to UK internet users.

ok, so good ethical stance which will benefit uk users. but what does the BBC stand to gain?

the BBC is funded by licence payers and from sales of TV programs etc to other companies worldwide. i suppose they could carry adverts (banners) for their own programs which may raise viewing figures and in turn generate more sales to other countries ....? it could also be in preparation for privatisation of the BBC - there is money to be made from providing a search service, especially if they can take large numbers of surfers away from other search engines in the meantime - i believe they have the power to do this .....