Wednesday, July 29, 2009

BBC Opens Up Its U2 Archives

BBC Worldwide Music, part of the commercial arm of U.K. broadcaster the BBC, has unveiled two major new U2 shows that it is making available for sale to international broadcasters.

The programs include the Irish band's roof-top performance on top of BBC Broadcasting House in London in February 2009.

U2=BBC: The History and U2=BBC feature exclusive material from the BBC archive and a series of extensive interviews with the band.

Around 5,000 people lined the nearby streets to watch the U2 performance, captured by aerial and rooftop camera shots, which will feature on both shows but form the basis of U2=BBC. That show - available as a 30-minute or 50-minute production - also features their live set for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, hosted by Jo Whiley as well as behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the band.

U2=BBC: The History follows the band's career from their earliest days live in Belfast in 1981 to the Broadcasting House set in 2009. It draws on nearly 30 years of BBC live performances, including Top of the Pops and Whistle Test.

"We're very excited to be able to bring together a collection of some genuinely unique BBC performances from the biggest band on the planet," said Jon Mansfield, head of content development at BBC Worldwide Music, in a statement. "It has been a brilliant opportunity to work with U2 and Universal Music to utilise the strengths of the BBC Worldwide multi-platform infrastructure and reach global audiences with their best BBC performances. This continues BBC Worldwide's music content strategy, building an impressive portfolio of exclusive and unique performances from many of the world's biggest artists."

The U2 shows follow recent BBC Worldwide music specials on Oasis and Pet Shop Boys from the BBC archive.

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