NEWS
BBC Worldwide has confirmed it wants to launch an iPlayer-style paid-for video platform, allowing viewers overseas access to BBC content on-demand.
The service will give users access to some of the corporation's flagship programmes, such as Doctor Who or Torchwood.
The BBC's iPlayer video-on-demand service, which first appeared in summer 2007 has now become a part of the media landscape, used by millions each month.
Like BBC's iPlayer in the UK, the service would provide material from BBC's international channels including BBC America and BBC Entertainment, as well as a catalogue of archived content.
It could also carry non-BBC shows that BBC Worldwide already has rights to air on BBC America. The service will be aimed primarily at an American audience, and will be available on a pay-per view basis.
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The new service, which will have to be approved by the BBC Trust before it can be implemented, is part of a wider scheme by BBC Worldwide to establish new revenue models.
The BBC's international service has been funded by advertising since November 2007, as it is not covered by the UK licence fee.
Luke Bradley-Jones, MD and EVP of BBC.com, discussed the possibility of introducing a pay model for international users in a recent interview with paidContent.
"It's inevitable that we, the digital media business, need to move to a mix of paid services," he said. "There just aren't enough ad dollars to support traditional media models."
"Millions of people love Torchwood and would probably pay 10 bucks an episode rather than two bucks," Bradley-Jones told paidContent.
International audiences already have access to BBC programmes via BBC Worldwide's TV channels and can buy individual episodes on iTunes. Bradley-Jones also said BBC Worldwide plans to launch news and sport mobile apps in the next few months.
Comments
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1. Joe Bua
Ten bucks for an episode of Torchwood? That's $130 for a full season.
What are they smoking at the BBC?
I will just wait for the episodes to show up here on BBC America, thank you.
I can get a used copy of Children of Earth right now at a store in my neighborhood for $21.99.
Ten bucks, that's so funny.
2. karen challinor
brilliant, any chance they may become self funding through this
.... didn't think so
on the other hand any chance foreign companies like NBC and Fox could adopt the same model so we could legally watch shows from their internet channels in the UK rather than get the "sorry you are outside the US" message, removing at least some of the bricks from the artificial walls being built around countries on the internet
..... didn't think so
I'll contain my excitement then
3. karen challinor
Joe - the BBC have an inflated idea of the commercial value of their products probably because they don't have to advertise to fund them
taking your torchwood example, I have series 1 & 2 on DVD purchased brand spanking new for £9 from a major supermarket chain
if the BBC had sold it at that price from the start they would have sold a lot more than they have