With news that the BBC has commenced the first ever “open-source documentary”, are the principles of open source development now going to turn the audience into creators. The Digital Revolution webste asks for open participation:

“Your input, your comments and your links will be read by the production team and will shape the direction the story takes….everything will be part of our online interactive documentary that launches alongside programme transmission.”

The approach being taken by the BBC brings audience participation (through blogging and commenting) into the production process. Rather than test or ‘launch’ a show to an audience, this method engages the potential audience and interested parties upfront, giving them a real opportunity to shape the show’s content. No real details on who and how much influence the open source audience have yet, but it will be interesting to see the results of professsional program makers being influenced by the audience in the making of the series.

A BBC representative has said that  “The documentary needs people to come and share their knowledge, stories and links to guide the production, in the knowledge they have an opportunity to affect and guide a major and unique BBC documentary,” thus illustrating the desire to get the audience to become (in part at least) the makers of the show.

In addition, the BBC have announced that they will also release ‘rough cuts’ under free distribution licenses for people to syndicate onto their own websites.  In the world where the success of open source web development is clear, open source TV may prove to be a worthy sister planet.

NB: If you want to get involved just head over to the digital revolution website.