BBC to stream 3G channels

The BBC is to trial 3G mobile TV with Orange, Vodafone and 3 in the UK.

The experiment starts in April, will last up to 12 months and includes flagship channels BBC One, BBC News 24 and BBC Three.

Eight radio stations, including Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 6 Music, BBC 7 and Asian Network, are also part of the trial.

Ashley Highfield, The BBC's director of future media and technology, said: "By making a range of television channels and radio networks available to 3G mobile phone subscribers, we hope to test not only the effectiveness of 3G as a means of distribution, but also how audiences respond to the BBC's linear services on their mobiles.

Richard Halton, the BBC's controller of business strategy, said "The BBC constantly aims to make its content available to as many people in as many ways as possible. The mobile platform is a great opportunity for us to reach existing users in a new way and connect better with people who are not currently big users of the BBC."

The BBC has also launched an enhanced version of bbc.co.uk/mobile, which is available to all mobile phones with browsers capable of displaying XHTML pages.