The BBC has confirmed plans to add a paid-for download service to its digital portfolio, giving viewers the option of “downloading to own” programmes shortly after broadcast.
The idea of a commercial download service was mooted earlier this year, and the BBC has confirmed it plans to push ahead with what is now dubbed “Project Barcelona”.
In a speech to the Royal Television Society, director general Mark Thompson laid out plans for an iTunes-like store where publishers could make their wares available for download. Unlike iPlayer, the content would be available permanently.
“The idea behind Barcelona is simple,” Thompson said. “It is that, for as much of our content as possible, in addition to the existing iPlayer window, another download-to-own window would open soon after transmission.
"If you wanted to purchase a digital copy of a programme to own and keep, you could pay what would generally be a relatively modest charge for doing so."
This is not a second licence-fee by stealth or any reduction in the current public service offering from the BBC - it’s the exact analogy of going into a High Street shop to buy a DVD
When the idea was first reported, it raised concerns among licence payers that they were being charged for the same content twice, given that the Beeb is funded by the taxpayer. Thompson, however, played down the fears, claiming commercial copies were already available to end users.
“This is not a second licence-fee by stealth or any reduction in the current public service offering from the BBC - it’s the exact analogy of going into a High Street shop to buy a DVD or, before that, a VHS cassette,” he said.
“For decades the British public have understood the distinction between watching Dad’s Army on BBC One and then going out to buy a permanent copy of it. Barcelona is the digital equivalent of doing the second.”
"Non-exclusive"
The content wouldn't be restricted to the BBC's own site, Thompson said, adding that it would be working with other retailers to provide content.
“The window would be non-exclusive,” Thompson said. “The BBC would open up one digital shop, but the expectation would be that all this content would also be made available for other existing providers to sell if they wish and that producers could exploit this download-to-own window in any way they wanted.
“The important point is that the window would be open-ended – in other words, the programmes would be available permanently.”
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