The BBC has reportedly put on hold its plans to release free iPhone news applications because of market fairness worries.
According to a report by the network’s news branch, the BBC Trust has decided to halt the planned April release of news and sports applications for the Apple handsets after newspaper publishers claimed that the apps gave the BBC an unfair advantage in the marketplace.
The Trust will reportedly review the plan and decide whether the apps would violate its public service agreement.
The row over the BBC’s iPhone applications comes as newspaper publishers seek to capitalize on Apple’s iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad platforms amidst slowing sales of print editions.
Major papers such as the Wall Street Journal and New York Times have announced agreements with Apple to offer newspaper special subscription offers of their daily papers formatted for the iPad tablet.
The report also comes as the BBC is said to be cutting back on its own online operations. Media reports claimed that the company would be reducing its web operations by as much as one half.
Resource:
http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2260500/bbc-puts-iphone-plans-ice
