BBC Worldwide has signed its first deal to licence full-length TV programmes for broadcast on mobile phones.
BBC Worldwide has signed its first deal to licence full-length TV programmes for broadcast on mobile phones.

The corporation's commercial arm has signed a deal with Wolverhampton-based company ROK, which will see old episodes of Red Dwarfand Doctor Whomade available for watching on handsets.

The company will sell the programmes on special digital video chips, which cost around£17 and can be inserted into any multi-media compatible phone. The programmes can then be watched full-screen on the phone, even if the phone has no network coverage.

The deal - which will see three episodes of Red Dwarfavailable on one chip and a Doctor Who special available on another - is a first for BBC Worldwide, and is expected to lead to more content deals with ROK.

The company already has deals with record companies Sony/BMG and Ministry of Sound for music videos, as well as Aardman Studios, giving them the rights to Wallace and Gromitand Creature Comfortscartoons.