(12 May 2006 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC has re-launched its search engine with a new audio-visual search capability, a new user interface and enhanced usability and quality.

For the first time, users will be able to search for selected television and radio programmes in addition to audio and video content from the BBC's News, Radio and Sports archives.

Users will be able to quickly and easily locate EastEnders highlights, the latest edition of The Archers and The Chris Moyles Show.

A limited amount of the BBC's audio and video content will be initially available; the full range of BBC content is likely to be made available later this year.

BBC director new media and technology Ashley Highfield said, "This re-launch marks the first stage in our aim of creating services that enable our audiences to find BBC content - whether text, audio or video - through ever easier navigation.

"It's also a first step towards a radical overhaul of our website. It will open up an initial index of around 300,000 clips and a selection of BBC programmes for the first time."

The re-launched BBC web site search engine is to be powered by enterprise software company Autonomy, while Microsoft's Windows Live Search will power the BBC internet search.

The BBC is required to re-tender its search provision every three years, and the reprocurement has been done through the European OJEC process.