In what it calls the first deal of its kind between the BBC and a US-based newspaper Web site, the New York Times Digital said it would incorporate links from the BBC World Service English audio content on the NYTimes.com site.

The radio arm of British Broadcasting Company, the UK's equivalent of Public Broadcasting in the US, and the NYTimes.com, the digital media division of the newspaper, said they would incorporate links to global news programs and hourly news bulletins from the BBC on the NYTimes.com international section.

The announcement comes as the Times' digital division experiences increased interest from international readers since September 11.

During a Reuters-sponsored panel discussion about media coverage in a post-September 11 world Tuesday, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., the publisher of The New York Times, said two million of NYTimes.com registered users are from outside the US. Even in China, he said, access to the site is opening up.

According to Media Metrix, the NYTimes.com has been the largest newspaper site for 23 months in a row; in February the site recorded nearly 9.8 million worldwide visitors, and over 277 million page views.

The NYTimes.com said users would be able to access three BBC programs:

*"World Update," a daily news program for U.S. listeners on world affairs; Public Radio International's "The World," a co-production of BBC World Service, PRI and PBS station WGBH in Boston. Both programs are syndicated to U.S. public radio stations; and "World Service Bulletins," five-minute updates on breaking international news.

Miles Palmer, the head of business development at BBC World Service, said the broadcasting company is already in discussions with New York Times Digital to widen the scope of the content it provides.

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Catherine Levene, vice president of strategy and business development for NYTD, said the division looks forward to expanding its relationship with the BBC in coming months.