Jul
15
Radio Televisión Española’s online makeover
Spain’s Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) recently underwent an online makeover this past spring, creating a new web portal for its radio and television programming. In an interview with Spanish media, Rosalía Lloret, director of RTVE’s interactive media division, said that if she could, she’d love for RTVE online to be a carbon copy of the BBC’s massive online operation. Well, a girl can dream, can’t she? 
The previous design/layout of RTVE’s web site was very basic. This new version definitely looks better and is easier to navigate, although the intrusive presence of Google ads at the top of some of its pages and in the sidebar looks tacky, tacky, tacky. (Note to Ms. Lloret: BBC online doesn’t run Google ads.) Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against advertising. Everybody has got to pay their bills. But surely RTVE could’ve dug a little deeper into its pockets to find a creative web designer who could’ve better integrated the ads into the space. Anyway, that’s a niggling point.
The site is still labeled as a beta version but there’s already a ton of video and audio content on there from news to children’s programming. It will be fun seeing this site continue to grow and develop.
I have to agree with you about the incongruity of the google ads on a corporate site like that. Looks uber naff. BTW, the BBC is funded by television licence fees and is prohibited from showing any on-air commercial advertising. I presume that this restriction also applies to their web presence.
Yes, it does, Graham – no ads on the BBC anywhere – but then the licence fees have to be paid for. The RTVE website is disappointing, but then they don’t really dig deep into their pockets for anything except low-rent comedies and quiz shows (and directors’ salaries). There’s nothing at all for kids (little sense of responsibility there from the state channel) – AND we have to put up with the ads. Still, as you say, the site should improve with time.
Eleena, this has been for a few weeks now
. Best is that you can watch most of their shows up to 7 days after it aired (although, best? Like Jonathan said they don’t have top-quality stuff, but it’s input and if you can’t afford DVD’s, etc. it’s good enough for some massive input).