The BBC has announced that it is to launch a new digital service this autumn which will allow UK consumers to buy and keep copies of their favourite programmes.
The new BBC Store, run by the Beeb’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide, will aim to offer more than 10,000 hours of programming within the first year, including popular shows such as Doctor Who.
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: “Ever since VHS was introduced, and later DVD and Blu-ray, consumers have always wanted to own copies of their favourite programmes and have paid to do so – that’s exactly what BBC Store will provide for the digital age.
“These have never been included in the licence fee, and programmes will continue to be available for free on BBC iPlayer for 30 days, just as they are now. As more and more people consumer TV digitally, it makes sense to offer BBC programmes for ownership in this way.
“BBC Store only allows audiences to buy content that has already appeared on the BBC. Consumers do not take out a subscription – they buy and download individual shows or series to keep – essentially BBC Store enables a ‘digital DVD’.”
At launch, BBC Store will only be available to UK users. However, the news comes amidst revelations that 60 million people outside of the UK have access to its iPlayer service free of charge by using VPN technology to mask their country of origin.
Critics have long argued that the BBC could do more to commercialise its content outside of the UK to decrease the burden on the UK licence fee payer and will look to such initiatives as a possible solution.
Earlier this month, the government also unveiled the first stages in the process of setting out a new Royal Charter to define the future constitution of the BBC.
John Whittingdale MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, released a consultation Green Paper outlining four broad issues now up for public and industry discussion over the next 12 weeks. The review will assess the way the BBC is funded, its current scale, governance and purpose.
