BBC Store
{{Short description|2015–2017 video on demand store}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox online service
|name =BBC Store
|title =BBC Store
|logo =BBC Store Logo.svg
|logo_size =
|logo_alt =
|logo caption =
|image =
|image_size =
|image_alt =
|caption =
|developer =BBC Worldwide
|type =Video on Demand
|launched = {{start date and age|2015|11|5|df=y}} {{cite web|title=BBC Store to launch next month|url=http://tbivision.com/news/2015/10/bbc-store-launch-next-month/503921/|publisher=TBI Magazine|access-date=1 November 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/nov/05/bbc-gives-fans-of-classic-shows-chance-to-buy-and-download-episodes-doctor-who-dads-army|title=BBC gives fans of classic shows chance to buy and download episodes |first=Kevin|last=Rawlinson | date=5 November 2015|newspaper=The Guardian}}
|discontinued = {{end date and age|2017|11|1|df=y}}
|version =
|version release date =
|preview version =
|preview version release date =
|updated =
|platform = BBC iPlayer
|operating system =
|status = Closed
|members =
|website = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://store.bbc.com/ |date=* |title=Archived official website }}
}}
BBC Store was a short-lived 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.{{cite web|title=BBC Trust approves proposals for BBC Store|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/2014/bbc_store.html|publisher=bbc.co.uk|access-date=10 June 2015|date=27 February 2014}} It was initially hosted on a dedicated website, but was later integrated with BBC iPlayer.{{cite web|last1=Farber|first1=Alex|title=BBC Store to undergo major trial|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbc-store-to-undergo-major-trial/5087231.article|publisher=broadcastnow.co.uk|url-access=subscription |access-date=10 June 2015|date=1 May 2015}} BBC Store was provided and funded through BBC Worldwide, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC.{{cite web|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/our_work/bbc_store/bbc_store.pdf|title=BBC Trust BBC Store regulatory approval|date=27 March 2013|publisher=BBC Trust|format=PDF|access-date=16 June 2015}} 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."{{cite magazine|last1=Dowell|first1=Ben|title=BBC looking to open up programme archive with new paid-for digital service|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2017-11-07/bbc-open-archive-paid-for-digital-service/|magazine=Radio Times|access-date=24 March 2018|date=7 November 2017}} 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.
Content
The service offered around 6,000 hours of recent programmes and 4,000 hours of archive content; 3,000 hours were of older titles that were currently available commercially.{{cite web|title=BBC Trust BBC Store regulatory approval|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/our_work/bbc_store/bbc_store.pdf|publisher=BBC Trust|access-date=16 June 2015|format=PDF|date=27 March 2013}} The last 1,000 hours were to be editorially selected. The Executive hoped each year to release a further 500–1000 hours of archive programmes.
Certain programmes were available to buy straight after broadcast. The store did not affect BBC iPlayer's 30-day catch-up service and the iPlayer remained free for UK television licence payers. Both Store and iPlayer are available to UK residents only.
Closure
On 20 May 2017 an article in The Telegraph claimed the BBC Store would be closing.{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Christopher|title=BBC to close TV download store after only 18 months as streaming dominates|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/05/20/bbc-close-tv-download-store-18-months-streaming-dominates/|newspaper=Telegraph|access-date=24 March 2018|date=20 May 2017}} Then, on 25 May 2017, the BBC announced that the BBC Store would be closing on 1 November that year. All customers will be entitled to a full refund of any money paid for programmes.{{cite magazine|last1=Gill|first1=James|title=BBC Store to close as Corporation admits defeat in the face of streaming service rivals|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-05-26/bbc-store-to-close-as-corporation-admits-defeat-in-the-face-of-streaming-service-rivals/|magazine=Radio Times|access-date=24 March 2018|date=26 May 2017}} Purchases were available to watch until 1 November.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/*/store.bbc.com Official website] (Archive)
- [http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/our_work/bbc_store/bbc_store.pdf BBC Trust Report]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150223034133/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/bbc/BBC_store.pdf Ofcom Report]
{{UK Based TV on demand}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|television}}
{{Video digital distribution platforms}}
Category:Defunct video on demand services
Category:Internet properties established in 2015
Category:2015 establishments in the United Kingdom