BBC betas new homepage design
Michael Gay December 17th, 2007
One of the gold standards for online journalism has been working on a major redesign, and a peek at the homepage of the new look is now in beta. Not only is the new site cleaner than their previous design, but the site is focused on providing customization, allowing users to move modules and set their location. Blogs also have their own widget on the new design that users can customize as well. Plus, check out the analog clock in the upper right. Turns out this is an homage to the BBC 1’s iconic time piece. Lots more on the new design is highlighted on the BBC’s Internet blog.
5 Comments Add your own
1. Cory Bergman | December 18th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Oooh, now we’re getting somewhere. I love the customization. Slick!
I’ve always wanted to design a news site that gave users nearly complete control over the content. And made it simple enough for non-techies to understand. With this beta site, you can customize everything but the “top news” box. And everything is very easy.
One big thing that’s missing: I’d like to aggregate outside content (like a feed-reader) into the page, too.
I hope they doing something along these lines (but a little tighter and more sophisticated) with BBC News.
2. JoeMo | December 18th, 2007 at 11:07 am
green? nuff said
3. Shakir Razak | December 18th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Hi,
Sorry about this, but…..
“Web 2.0″ by idiots who’ve swallowed all the hype.
How much of this content won’t be available to those on lower-end platforms.
Also, actually try using it, and see how much you lose compared to the existing method; in addition what about the range and serendipity of content that comes from non-personalised/widgetised presentation.
Finally, while I believe in the general idea of psb and the license fee, another example of what un-restrained budgets will allow in development -which has meant the media sites from all the other networks in the UK are next to useless in the face of this much force.
Regards,
Shakir Razak
4. Bob Jones | December 19th, 2007 at 8:05 am
JoeMo, its not green perse, atleast in the U.K, the color changes depending on which of the main stories you’re viewing but since the main stories are programming notices, they’re not relevant outside the U.K. which is why you get the top news I gather.
3, Shakir Razak, the reason the other “networks” (we can them channels) sites are bad is because they don’t want to develop them, they have the money but they can’t be bothered … the BBC was one of the first on the net, those other channels didn’t see it coming, its not the Beebs fault … if they wanted to make a decent site they could, but news comes last to them - reality TV and the junk comes first which is why thats pretty much all you will find on ITV or Channel 4’s site.
5. Shakir Razak | December 19th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Bob,
Let me reiterate that I believe in the bbc and the license.
But there are virtues of the bbc that are a myth.
Granada Broadband dates back to the mid-90’s, and various other activities by ITV back to the old bulletin Board days.
There is no problem with the bbc doing programme-based spin-off sites, and news, but it’s when it goes beyond that to cover almost everything under the sun.
I’ve spoken with people at other broadcasters, and the fact is that when you working against a competitor with no set public similar budget, it’s impossible to make a business case, e.g. parenting sites it’s little different to the completely limited way that radio has developed in the UK -the window is too small, and ultimately benefits no one inc. the bbc.
I would actually prefer if the 80/90’s model of magazines and UKTV were involved, there’s no problem with cross-advertising, it’s the cross-subsidising without a business case or need.
Yours kindly,
Shakir Razak
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