| JOEYKID |
12-02-2003 02:49 AM |
BBC plans giant city screens
EastEnders, the news and major sporting events could be broadcast on permanent giant screens in British cities, the BBC said.
The plan could also see community information and even the Glastonbury music festival broadcast in public areas, according to the scheme's backers.
A screen has already been erected in Manchester's Exchange Square as an experiment, playing 24-hours a day with a mixture of video and text information.
BBC content, what's on information, films by local artists and events happening in the city centre have all been broadcast there.
It is run on a non-commercial basis by a consortium including the BBC, the city council, the technology providers Philips, retailers, local arts bodies and other community groups.
The broadcaster is in early discussions with a number of cities who are considering creating similar consortia to mount their own community screens.
A senior spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: "The screen has proved to be a hugely popular magnet for local people and visitors.
"More people now visit Exchange Square on a regular basis and large crowds gather for major cultural, sporting and entertainment events."
Bill Morris, the BBC's Project Director of Live Events said: "The BBC's major contribution is to offer our programmes - particularly great sporting events, musical occasions like the BBC Proms and Glastonbury, news and relays of major world events - which have already been paid for by the public.
"We also contribute some expertise in managing and scheduling the screen, but we're delighted to open up the screen to more community content, local events and information services."
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