BBC TV shows on iTunes Store this week?
updated 09:25 am EST, Mon February 18, 2008
BBC on iTunes this week?
TV shows from the BBC may soon appear on the iTunes Store, reports claim. Cited is an anonymous source in the TV industry, who claims that BBC Worldwide will announce its plans on Tuesday. The source further suggests that Worldwide's digital media director, Simon Danker, has already contacted a number of third-party production companies to let them know of the new sales market. It is unclear whether shows would be available solely in the UK, or also on iTunes sites in Canada and the US; BBC Worldwide is said to be under pressure, however, to send more income from selling shows to the core of the BBC, given a dwindling benefit from TV license fees.
The BBC will be be adopting Apple video formats in at least one regard, as its iPlayer catch-up service is due on Macs by the end of the year. It may also appear on the Apple TV, according to BBC technology director Ashley Highfield. The catch is that while either should allow free viewing of TV shows, iPlayer as a whole is only available to UK residents, and episodes expire after a week.
One more step...
02/18, 10:33am reply
That would be sweet if the shows were made available on the US iTunes Store. One step closer to being able to get ride of Comcast!
ender
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Joined: Mar 1999
Dawkins
02/18, 11:04am reply
Kudos for the Dawkins pic!
Alric1
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Joined: Aug 2001
I want my Dalek toys!
02/18, 11:10am reply
What no Doctor Who?
beb
Mac Elite
Joined: Jan 2002
this is not news...
02/18, 01:43pm reply
as the BBC is going to continue to keep content locked down to everyone except those folks living in and subscribing from the UK like they already do with their content_
It will be screened via IP Address and locked to the iTMS-UK_
Thank the queen for torrent files_
UberFu
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Joined: Oct 2002
Going worldwide
02/18, 04:51pm reply
I don't think it's de facto that iTunes sales will be UK-only. Probably at first, but it's not like Doctor Who is an obscure character abroad, and BBC documentaries are shown in North America all the time.
Roger@MacNN
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Joined: Jan 2008
re: going worldwide
02/18, 05:20pm reply
Plus, the BBC already has a cable channel in the US (BBC America), so it's not like they don't already distribute their content here. Of course, they also have had distribution of some shows via other channels such as the Sci-Fi Channel; and it's usually on a several week delay from when it's shown in the UK. So they'd have to work that out. They wouldn't want a show downloadable on iTunes in the US before it's actually broadcast here.
ender
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Joined: Mar 1999
Top Gear
02/18, 06:18pm reply
Yeah! Top Gear is finally back on BBC America after being gone for a year but I would glad pay to download the episodes. It's hilarious! The best automotive show ever. I love seeing all of the exotic cars that never make here to the States.
cebritt
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Oops
02/18, 06:21pm reply
Sorry about the typos: Yea!... gladly... make it here...
cebritt
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