BBC and BBC Worldwide have formed a partnership agreement with Fathom, creator of the online learning destination http://www.fathom.com/, for content and course development in the area of history.

The BBC and Fathom will co-produce and deliver an online history seminar with Columbia. Fathom will also enter into a content alliance and marketing relationship with BBC History Magazine.

Fathom, BBC and Columbia (a founding member of Fathom), will create and distribute an online seminar based on Columbia Professor Simon Schama's popular History of Britain BBC book and television series. The seminar will provide in-depth material on themes introduced in a key episode in the series covering the American War of Independence and the Atlantic slave trade. The seminar is available for a fee at http://www.fathom.com/ in the spring of 2001.

"By harnessing the power of the Internet we can bring history to life for new audiences worldwide. This new partnership will create new opportunities for us to develop the learning potential in our programs and products," said Michael Stevenson, joint director, BBC Factual and Learning.

Schama said, "The seminar offers viewers of the BBC series, as well as newcomers to the subject matter, the chance to delve deeply into the historical material and to control the timing and pace of their exploration. "Provost Jonathan Cole added, "Columbia is excited to create a unique learning experience with the BBC and to work with Fathom to deliver the seminar to an international audience."

Those who are interested in being notified when the seminar opens for enrollment can indicate their interest on Fathom's home page. In addition, Fathom has entered a content alliance and co-marketing agreement with BBC History Magazine—the U.K.'s best-selling general history publication—in which the two organizations will share content and Fathom will sell subscriptions to the magazine on its Web site. Quality, authenticated material from Fathom's members, the world's leading universities, museums, libraries, publishers and research institutions, will enhance BBC History Magazine's offerings, while the rich, educational content of the magazine will add to Fathom's growing history content.

"BBC History Magazine and Fathom can now introduce their respective audiences to new ways of accessing quality knowledge content. Our new alliance will allow more people to enjoy history and take their interest further," said Sue Kerr, publisher of BBC History Magazine.

Ann Kirschner, Fathom CEO, said: "We are delighted to be working with the BBC, one of the best-known and most distinguished media companies in the world. The BBC's tradition of exploring the creation of quality content through television, radio and publishing now extends to e-learning. In addition, our BBC relationships will draw a worldwide audience to Fathom and will demonstrate our ability to work with a range of media in creating a unique learning experience on the Internet."