Azureus Announces Deal with BBC

The BBC plans to make hundreds of episodes of its popular British television programs available on a file-sharing network for the first time.

The BBC announced December 20, that the move follows a deal between the commercial arm of the company, BBC Worldwide, and the Java-based BitTorrent client technological firm, Azureus.

The new deal means that users of the software will be able to download high-quality versions of BBC programmes, including Red Dwarf, Doctor Who and the League of Gentleman. Classic series such as Fawlty Towers will also be available through a BBC "channel".

BBC officials described the move as part of a drive to reach the largest-possible audience.

BBC is one of the few traditional media companies that has pioneered the use and distribution of their content through the Internet. Until now however most of this content traveling through P2P networks was illegal. BBC wants to change that and make it viable for people from around the world have access to their programming.