Roll-out of BBC Jam frozen due to Govt enquiry

The launch of new material for the BBC Jam online service has been frozen, following the government's decision to call for a review of the corporation's educational content.

The launch of new material for the BBC Jam online service has been frozen, following the government's decision to call for a review of the corporation's educational content.

Argument rages about whether BBC Jam is following its government remit to be 'distinctive and complementary' to the offerings from the commercial sector and the investigation has been called following continued resistance from the British Educational Suppliers Association.

A judicial review was previously sought by educational software companies, which argued that the use of state money to fund the BBC's plans would be illegal under European law. In early 2003 an out-of-court settlement was reached.

The roll-out of five subjects, due to take place at the end of December 2006, has now been shelved. That content includes PE, history and English (all 7-11), geography (11-14) and statistics (14-16). It is not yet known who will be conducting the review.

Jam, which launched in January 2006, is a combination of curriculum-based activities, video games, audio and animation. For example, the media studies subject is set in an interactive production studio where users can direct a shoot with presenter Angellica Bell or edit vox pops with Radio 1 DJ Trevor Nelson.

When or if it is completed in September 2008 Jam will offer 120 subjects delivered from a total budget of £150m. Its future after this is uncertain.

In an interview with Broadcastlast year, BBC controller of learning and factual interactive, Liz Cleaver, denied the service was anti-competitive. 'I would turn the argument on its head and say we are actually stimulating the market,' Cleaver said. 'There has been no evidence that we are having a negative impact on the market to date. And remember that, with Jam, 50% of the content is being commissioned from independents.'

A BBC spokesman confirmed that five new services are being frozen for an indefinite period.