The BBC has announced that it will introduce three new local editions of its BBC.com website to Asia, according to an announcement from the corporation.
The plans will see a dedicated news website launched in India, with the corporation also creating a joint site for Australia and New Zealand with a general Asia news website for the rest of the region.
The new additions will provide “a more immersive and localised experience”, according to Chris Davies, Acting Managing Director of BBC.com. As well as new platforms, Davies revealed, the BBC is actively building editorial staff at its regional headquarters in Singapore to work with Asia-Pacific-based media from its international services.
Visitors to the new websites — who will be served local versions based on their IP address — will enjoy more content within BBC’s international selection, including news, sport and travel, with a greater amount of local information such as weather, video and reporting.
The BBC is also launching a a series of five specially commissioned Asia Pacific reports to provide “in depth analysis beyond the headlines”. The weekly updated series will start on tomorrow, November 4.
Davies revealed the new additions come in response to “overwhelming audience feedback and testing” from BBC.com’s 11.1 million unique monthly users in Asia.
The news come just days after the BBC expanded its international television service into Thailand and Taiwan while also adding new channels to its established service in Indonesia.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.