BBC Worldwide has signed back-catalogue digital distribution deals with talkbackTHAMES and Prominent Television to deliver their TV shows over internet, mobile, video-on-demand and other digital channels. The deal concerns programmes the pair made prior to the BBC writing online uses in to its standard contracts with independent producers, so this sees the corporation striking remedial deals to exploit long-tail online channels. It means the BBC’s commercial overseas arm will be able to sell older shows such as Alan Partridge and Sahara With Michael Palin. BBC Worldwide said it would use the shows “in long and short form”.