BBC eyes up £18m digital analytics partner

Broadcaster on hunt for supplier of web and data analytics tools to improve its web reporting and marketing campaigns

The BBC is searching for an IT partner to supply it with a range of data analytics software as part of efforts to improve its audience analysis processes.

The Provision of Next Generation Digital Analytics Services framework is set to be worth in the region of £13m and £18m over a three-year period, but the deal could be extended for another year at the broadcaster's discretion.

Web and data analytics tools are sought so the BBC can better support its web reporting analysis and drive its marketing campaigns, audience recommendations and product development.

The deal is spilt into two lots, the first worth about £9m for a single supplier to provide general digital analysis tools, and the second - worth between £5.5m and £8m - to cover more specialist services such as predictive analytics.

TechMarketView research director for enterprise software and application services Angela Eager said the BBC's tender could be one to watch for smaller suppliers.

"The tender is eye-catching because it shows a commitment to a medium-sized but strategic project in a market where advanced analytics projects still tend to be small or exploratory," she said.

"We expect all the usual suspects will be interested in the analytics tender but it will be insightful to see who they pull in from the specialist analytics vendor community. This is a valuable opportunity for the 'little guys'."