BBC World Service is turning its audio series Witness History into AI-animated video episodes for the first time.
The programme will release five animated adaptations of recent editions, using generative AI technology to bring its archive storytelling to visual platforms.
The first episode, The World’s First Labradoodle, will be published on the BBC World Service YouTube channel on 1 March.
Further animated versions will follow, including Brazil’s Biggest Bank Heist, Ramesses II’s ‘Mummy Makeover’, The Discovery of Lord Sipan in Peru and Arrested for Playing Football in Brazil.
The move marks a first for BBC World Service as it tests new ways of distributing its journalism beyond audio, with the aim of reaching audiences who may not encounter the programme in its traditional format.
Fred Durman, Head of Business Development at BBC World Service, said: “This exciting project uses generative AI to give a second life to our original programming, enabling us to reach new audiences in a novel way.”
Anna Doble, Digital Editor at the BBC World Service, added: “We’re exploring using AI technology to help bring these fascinating audio stories from Witness History to life in visual form. We look forward to hearing how new audiences respond to this new approach.”
The animations have been created by 1UpMedia.
Guang Jin Yeo, Animator at 1UpMedia, said: “By thoughtfully adapting these Witness History stories into video, we have produced an animation to accompany the audio that doesn’t compromise the depth and care that defines the programme.
“Using generative AI allows us to unlock the extraordinary BBC World Service archive of narrative audio for visual audiences who may never have encountered it before.”
Witness History is broadcast every weekday on BBC World Service English and is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds and other BBC podcast platforms.
