The BBC is joining the broadband rush and plans to offer viewers with the new generation of high-speed internet connections the chance to download news, sport and weather.

And clips of Top of the Pops and EastEnders could soon follow on the new BBC broadband portal.

Initially, the service will offer a selection of BBC News, BBC Sport and BBC Weather bulletins, edited into two to four-minute packages.

The bulletins will be interactive, allowing users to click on a particular story to gain access to background information or read about a subject in more depth.

If the packages prove popular, the BBC will introduce entertainment content within the next six months. These could include Top of the Pops performances, updates on soaps such as EastEnders and sports highlights.

The launch is being seen as the first stage in the BBC's full-scale assault on the broadband market and will reignite the controversy over its right to use licence payers' money to launch a service that will compete with advertising funded and subscription services.

The BBCi broadband "console" will be available from the home pages of broadband service providers such as Telewest's blueyonder, Freeserve, AOL and NTL.

It hopes to sign similar deals with other services, including BT Openworld, shortly afterwards.

"It is part of the BBC's remit to drive digital take up in the UK," said Angel Gambino, BBCi's controller of business development and broadband.

"I believe that in creating the BBCi Broadband console, with best of breed content, the BBC can help create a truly broadband Britain," she added.

Earlier this week BT announced it hoped to sign up 1m broadband customers by next summer, while cable operators Telewest and NTL also hope to have around 500,000 broadband customers between them by 2003.

At present, there are only 145,000 broadband connections in the UK.