 | |
| Developer | BBC Worldwide |
|---|---|
| Type | Video on Demand |
| Launch date | 5 November 2015 [1][2] |
| Discontinued | 1 November 2017 |
| Platform(s) | BBC iPlayer |
| Status | Closed |
| Website | Archived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index) |
BBC Store was a video on demand store that launched in the UK on 5 November 2015 and opened the BBC Archive to consumers, allowing them to buy episodes or series of a show and download them (using dedicated BBC Store apps). BBC Store was approved by the BBC Trust in 2014.[3] It was initially hosted on a dedicated website, but was later integrated with BBC iPlayer.[4] BBC Store was provided and funded through BBC Worldwide, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC.[5] It closed on 1 November 2017.
Following the launch of BBC Store, the BBC's UK physical and online shop (BBC Shop) closed on 29 March 2016. However, the online shop in the US and Canada is still fully operating. In November 2017 Tony Hall said, "We made the decision to go into download-to-own when the market looked like [it would work],” said Hall. “It was an experiment. We got out of it quick."[6] The BBC are now looking for a way to replicate a video on demand subscription service similar to Netflix, rather than a buy to own service.[6]
- ^ "BBC Store to launch next month". TBI Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ Rawlinson, Kevin (5 November 2015). "BBC gives fans of classic shows chance to buy and download episodes". The Guardian.
- ^ "BBC Trust approves proposals for BBC Store". bbc.co.uk. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ Farber, Alex (1 May 2015). "BBC Store to undergo major trial". broadcastnow.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ "BBC Trust BBC Store regulatory approval" (PDF). BBC Trust. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ a b Dowell, Ben (7 November 2017). "BBC looking to open up programme archive with new paid-for digital service". Radio Times. Retrieved 24 March 2018.