In what could prove to be a turning point in the UK's online media development, the BBC has made a landmark decision to put its whole archive of television and radio material on the internet.
If a trial involving 20,000 people is successful, consumers from around the world will be able to download more than a million hours worth of audio and video footage dating back to the beginning of the corporation, all from bbc.co.uk.
"Our audience increasingly want and expect to dictate how, when and where they get our services," said Ashley Highfield, director of Future Media and Technology at the BBC, at an industry conference in Cannes.
The move follows a strong year for online video streaming, fuelled by the popularity of sites such as YouTube, TV Links and Veoh.com.
Mainstream UK broadcasters have also jumped on the bandwagon, with Channel 4 launching its own on-demand video service and ITV expanding the amount of programmes available online.
Mr Highfield added that eventually, the project would allow "any viewer to access any BBC programme ever broadcast via their television".
