This article was published on April 13, 2011

BBC pushes out brand new (less innovative) website to international readers


BBC pushes out brand new (less innovative) website to international readers

Updates at the foot of the post

I visit the BBC on a daily basis. In fact the only website I visit more is The Next Web. I’m going to assume it’s the same case you for you too.

Today sees a massive revamp of the site’s iconic homepage. The new site sees the departure of the movable widgets and the arrival of a rather typical magazine-like homepage. I’m not going to pretend I’m not disappointed, because I am. One of the most prominent  features of the BBC’s website was the ability to customize the homepage to suite your chosen interests. I would constantly keep technology and sport above all else because, well, those were the topics I was most interested in. Unfortunately, for those outside of the UK, those options have  now gone.

Whether this is permanent or not – we don’t know – but irrespective it’s a pretty significant departure from the rather innovative homepage of the last few years. One that we admittedly used for inspiration in our previous design – albeit rather poorly.

On 24 January 2011, the BBC reported that it will cut its website spending by 25%.  Whether the removal of the customized homepage is the BBC’s first steps towards meeting those cuts we’re unsure – but it is rather timely. The changes sees BBC Online’s budget cut by £34m which will also result in the loss of up to 360 posts over the next two years.

More to follow once we find out whether this is a permanent move or simply a test.

Before:

After:

Updates

Update 1:

Currently only the main homepage seems to have seen drastic changes. The rest of the site is as it has ever been – whether you’re in the UK or abroad.

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.