Online ‘BBC Store’ Will Offer Classic Shows To Download And Keep

The BBC has launched a new online store where viewers can download recent programmes as well as ‘lost gems’ from the Beeb’s extensive archive.

The ‘BBC Store’ will offer around 7,000 hours of programmes available at launch, with plans to boost that number to 10,000 within a year.

Recent shows such as Doctor Who, Sherlock and Top Gear will available to download for a fee, while programmes like EastEnders and Holby City will be available to buy for the first time.

The selection will also include classics such as The Frost Interviews and Horizon.

Programmes will be priced at £1.89 per episode, with full series costing £7.99. Viewers will get a 25% discount on their first purchase.

Available at bbcstore.com, programmes that have been bought can also be watched on catch-up service iPlayer, as they will appear in the ‘My Programmes’ area.

Viewers will also be able to access the BBC Store directly from iPlayer in future.

While the BBC has previously released many of its programmes on VHS and DVD, the new online store sees the cooperation shifting to digital.

The company is hoping that the launch of BBC Store will help it raise more cash to supplement the licence fee.

Marcus Arthur, MD, BBC Worldwide & ANZ, said, “We want BBC Store to do for digital ownership what BBC iPlayer did for catch up. BBC Store makes digital ownership really easy for audiences and means that we can begin opening up the incredible BBC television archive”.

Image credit: BBC