US : BBC Worldwide’s Digital Media division today announces a new content partnership with mobile operator O2.

Under the deal, BBC Worldwide will provide a range of branded mobile content to be retailed through the O2 Active mobile portal. The company will initially be providing O2 with video clips, wallpapers and ringtones from programme brands including The Office, Little Britain, Doctor Who, I'm Alan Partridge, and League of Gentlemen.

The O2 distribution deal with BBC Worldwide follows on from the recent appointment of Peter Mercier as head of mobile in the Digital Media division.

The partnership will initially see BBC Worldwide providing over 300 individual pieces of content, with the range of programmes and formats expected to grow over time.

Peter Mercier, Head of Mobile at BBC Worldwide, said: “O2 is the largest UK operator by subscriber numbers so this is clearly a great deal for us in terms of getting our content in front of consumers and demonstrating to our in-house and indie production partners how BBC Worldwide continues to innovate in the digital media sector.”

“We have access to some of the best known and most loved TV brands around so we can offer mobile content retailers a unique opportunity to reach out to consumers with truly compelling material and offer rights owners a one-stop shop for mobile content distribution in the UK and internationally.”