Rumours have been a-flying here in the UK that the publicly-funded BBC would be bringing its shows to the iTunes Store in some form 'this week'. Citing 'TV Industry Sources', The Register reported that "BBC Worldwide will on Tuesday detail plans to set up shop at Apple's online media mall".It turns out, perusing the iTunes Store this evening, that the BBC Worldwide content has already appeared. Shows initially showing up include Torchwood, Spooks, The Mighty Boosh, Life on Mars, The Catherine Tate Show, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and finally Little Britain. All the episodes cost the regular UK pricing of £1.89 and currently, there's just a selection of series available: Spooks (known in the US as MI:5) is showing just Series 6 currently.
At least for now, the shows appear to be UK-only. Updated: shows will be available to download and buy 8 days after broadcast.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-18-2008 @ 4:39PM
Robin Moncaster said...
Shouldn't these be free to TV license payers?
(And yes Americans, this country is so crap they tax us to watch television)
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2-18-2008 @ 4:40PM
Nik Fletcher said...
Robin
They don't have to be, as they're from the BBC Worldwide unit, and likely treated the same as DVD sales of shows.
-N
2-18-2008 @ 4:44PM
Metaphor said...
I have to admit this is pretty galling when us UK resident's
have to pay £100 plus per annum for the 'privilege' of watching BBC created content. The BBC seems to want Tax payer's income but seems very happy to sell on this content for their own profit. The BBC iPlayer is a good service.. no wait its a good service if you have a windows based PC..... and they are slowly moving in the direction of supporting us Mac users.
If they truly are UK only then thats even more of a travesty!!!
2-18-2008 @ 5:18PM
Thomas said...
The DVD's aren't free and people don't moan about that. I won't be buying any of this stuff but I don't think they shouldn't be selling it. Hopefully this is the first step towards stuff being made available upon demand in the future as well from the BBC proper.
2-18-2008 @ 5:51PM
Ed said...
The iPlayer as it is for Macs is fine for me - I used the Windows p2p download client and it was appalling - we don't need nor want that on the Mac. Use of the flash based iPlayer is outstripping the download client by 12:1 (according to The Register) - I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't scrap it.
2-18-2008 @ 7:22PM
mentalsticks said...
you have no idea how lucky you are to have something like the bbc.
2-18-2008 @ 5:06PM
N Forester said...
£1.89 is just too expensive for any TV programme. £1.29 (inc. VAT) should be the highest - inline with Apple US-UK hardware/software pricing. As for BBC content, well that should be sold at cost; payment for download bandwidth, artists rights, admin costs, etc. £0.49 would be more reasonable.
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2-18-2008 @ 5:07PM
Mo said...
None of these are appearing in the “directory” view of the iTunes Store for me yet, though Life on Mars is linked to from the Store homepage, and the links in the above article all work.
I have to say, I'm a little surprised by this: I would have thought BBCW would release to the US first (BBC America has a pretty big following, after all), but I guess the rights issues are harder to sort out.
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2-18-2008 @ 5:07PM
Ed said...
C'mon... bring Top Gear to iTunes!!!
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2-18-2008 @ 5:22PM
josephm said...
Agreed in full x10 and bring it to the US store!
2-18-2008 @ 9:03PM
STrRedWolf said...
Seconded! Full Top Gear to iTunes w/subscription, to EVERYONE!
2-18-2008 @ 5:07PM
carldavies said...
This is a superb leap forward for us in the UK, but I am bitterly disappointed that we have to pay for them, surely if the BBC iPlayer is free to use for PC users we can use this for free, even if it was on a rental basis!
Once again if your in the Uk and an apple user your abused, but we will all take it on the chin because its a decision we made at birth!
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2-18-2008 @ 5:32PM
Thomas said...
Windows users run iTunes as well. If you want to own it you have to pay for it, the same with DVD's and VHS before that. If you just want to keep it then you get a recorder.
2-18-2008 @ 5:59PM
graeme said...
I wholeheartedly agree with you that this is a great step forward for us Brits. I don't have any problem at all paying for these programmes because this is totally different to the iPlayer. The iPlayer is only for the past 7 days of BBC programming, whereas the iTunes programmes that are already available are from months or years ago and we get to keep them indefinitely once we've paid for them.
I don't feel like we are being abused as Apple users. The iPlayer is available online for us - I know the app itself for the Mac and downloadable, time limited, self-destructable content is way off on the horizon, but we are not locked out of seeing the iPlayer content if we want to.
2-18-2008 @ 5:09PM
Matt Morelli said...
BBC Worldwide is the BBC's commercial arm and should not be confused with the BBC proper. BBC Worldwide profits fund itself, but a very large sum goes straight back into making programmes for UK license fee payers. Still doesn't make £1.89 an episode a good deal.
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2-18-2008 @ 5:30PM
William Tildesley said...
woo yeh, another way to watch content without having to pay my licence fee :)
I've just bought Life on Mars and Spooks, thanks BBC Worldwide, btw make way for the license fee haters, "why do i have to pay for this!" - well read the comments above this is from BBC Worldwide - I don't hate the license fee, I just don't need it now.
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2-18-2008 @ 5:35PM
ant said...
It is unfair for commenter's to compare to the iPlayer as that is for 7 day catch up, not for keeps as this is (ala DVD's).
However, that price is outrageous. I had always assumed we were paying almost twice as much compared to the US as the content was US originated and the American studios were charging an international premium. Guess this proves it has been , and continues to be, Apple ripping us off in the UK.
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2-18-2008 @ 5:38PM
ho ho ho said...
i would much prefer it if they had a choice - much like the current 'time-out' restrictions on rental movies from itunes - these BBC shows should be treated in the same way - exactly as they are on iplayer. the shows are valid for a few days - then delete themselves.
if you want to buy them - then pay 1.89.
essentially the BBC needs to roll out the iplayer - inside of itunes.
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2-18-2008 @ 5:41PM
DrWho said...
Old Australian joke: How can you tell that the plane just arrived is from England? Answer, it keeps whining after the engines have been turned off.
Jeez give the endless frickin whining about how hard done by you Britlanders are a rest. A hundred of your English Quids is nothing to pay to avoid having to sit through commercials. You lot are always gor blimey whining about how the US always gets stuff first well now you get something first and you are still whining. Unbe-apples and pears-leivable.
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2-18-2008 @ 5:46PM
Ed said...
Ashley Highfield head of New Media at the BBC has said he wants to bring the iPlayer to iTunes/Apple TV. That would be free and allow you to watch programmes from the last week and store them for up to 30 days.
As others have said, this is BBC Worldwide which are a commercial company. All the profits from BBC Worldwide go towards funding the BBC and hence reducing the license fee. They're in charge of both selling recordings - DVDs, CDs and licensing programs for viewing abroad (including to BBC America).
I agree, the price is too high, but this is set by Apple not the BBC.
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