BBC tests beta responsive design website on users ahead of roll-out
The BBC has begun widespread testing of its new responsive beta site on desktop and tablet as the broadcaster pushes its ‘mobile-first’ online news design.
Testing: The BBC's new responsive design website
Between five and 10 per cent of visitors to the BBC website will see a banner on their page over the next fortnight offering to take them to the new version of the site, and asking for feedback on it.
According to a blog post by Niko Vijayaratham, senior product manager at the BBC, traffic from mobile has rocketed in recent times and online services are being adapted to accommodate demand.
“Every week, the BBC News website (including our World Service news sites) gets around 115 million visits and the number coming from mobiles and tablets is increasing all the time to the point that these devices now account for 43 per cent of unique browsers to www.bbc.co.uk/news - this means we truly need to think ‘mobile-first’ at the BBC when building our online products,” he wrote.
Work on the responsive site has been ongoing since last year and stretches across news services in 30 different languages. The BBC aims to complete the roll-out in the first half of this year.