Homepage feedback and info

Why has the homepage changed?

The previous homepage design hadn't changed much in the last few years and, because the same page had to offer something to everyone in the UK, it was a bit of a compromise, packed with links and information to ensure that there was something for everyone.

Today, the BBC has the technology to let each individual visitor to bbc.co.uk have more say about what content they want on the homepage and how they want it to look. We have introduced customisation that lets users choose which sections they want to see, rearrange the page to suit them and even pick the colour scheme. For those who prefer not to customise the page, it can also be used in its default setting, as before.

In addition, the page has been updated so that it is fully compliant with current web standards and is more accessible to those with disabilities. See our accessibility help pages for more information about bbc.co.uk and accessibility.

The page will continue to be developed over the coming months, with new functionality and customisation options, as well as other changes in response to user feedback.

How do I use the new homepage?

There are several ways to customise the page, including selecting topics of interest or rearranging the layout. To find out more about how to do this, see the guided tour.

After customising the page, save any changes and, if cookies are enabled, the page will remember all the settings. For more about cookies, see the BBC's privacy & cookies policy.

Can I change the colour?

The page colour changes throughout the day to reflect the main feature area. Alternatively, there are several different colour schemes that can be selected for the page by the user. Click 'Customise your homepage' to see the options. For details of other ways to customise the page, see the guided tour.

Additionally, there are a range of default display options suitable for those who have difficulty reading standard web pages, for example those with dyslexia, colour blindness or visual impairments. Select the 'Display Options' link at the top of the bbc.co.uk homepage to access these.

Where's the link for...?

All content that was available on the old homepage can be found on the new page. The directory of links to areas such as Business, Lifestyle and Science & Nature is now at the bottom of the page. Additional links can be added by customising the page - see the guided tour for details of how to do this.

Why is the page so big?

In the last few years, the number of people using larger monitors has increased dramatically. The new homepage has been carefully designed so that although it is full size on screens of 1024 x 768 pixels, key content can be immediately visible on smaller screens without scrolling.

Why doesn't the page remember my settings?

The homepage uses cookies to store each user's settings. If settings are not stored, it may be because cookies are not enabled on that computer, or that they are automatically deleted at certain intervals for security reasons.

See WebWise for more information about cookies and how to enable them. The BBC's privacy & cookies policy includes details of all cookies used on bbc.co.uk.

Why is the clock wrong?

In order to reflect the local time regardless of time zone, the clock detects the time set on the user's computer and replicates this. If the clock appears to be incorrect, please check the computer's settings.

Why am I getting the wrong local information when I put in my postcode?

We're aware that there are currently some problems with our postcode system. Please bear with us while we try to fix these. It's not related to the new homepage, but any feedback sent via this form will be forwarded on to the team dealing with this.

Why can't the main feature area be moved or closed?

One of the bbc.co.uk homepage's key jobs is to give a flavour of the depth and breadth of content on the BBC and on bbc.co.uk. The feature area is designed to offer something interesting, topical, surprising or new - perhaps something that our audience might not otherwise discover. We believe that this is integral to the page. If the current promotion is not of interest, it's possible to select one of the others simply by choosing a different 'tab'.

For a wider discussion about this, see the BBC Internet blog.

How can I tell you my views about the homepage?

Please use the homepage feedback form below. Every email will be read, and your feedback will be used to develop the homepage further. Unfortunately we can't respond to individual emails but will post about developments from time to time via the BBC Internet Blog.

If you want to make a comment about something other than the BBC homepage, please visit our general Feedback page instead.

Why don't you reply to all feedback?

Since the launch of the new homepage, the BBC has received feedback - both negative and positive - from thousands of users. This feedback is extremely useful and we are already planning changes to the page in response to this.

However, replying individually to every email is not possible due to the high cost involved. (Replying to the emails received in the first week after the launch alone would cost the equivalent of more than 200 TV licences).

We hope you understand why we'd rather spend the time and money on making the changes you've asked for rather than replying to each email.