BBC Store to close on 1 November

DV

DVB Cornwall 22 May 2017 7:56pm

A quick review of the store seems to confirm this news, even if it's not been made public. Very little new content has been added recently. A key programme being 'Mexico' which although now on Ep3 is nowhere to be seen in the store but has been on iTunes for a fortnight. No new Horizons have been added for a while too.

Their Twitter account has all but gone silent too.

EDIT ... I've spent £141 in the Store since opening.

EDIT 2 ... from Broadcast tonight
Download service could shut after 18-months

BBC Worldwide has kicked off a review of BBC Store which could result in the closure of the 18-month old download-to-own service.

The service, which enables consumers to buy digital versions of BBC and indie shows including Doctor Who and Line Of Duty from around £3.99 per episode, finally launched in spring 2015 after plans were first unveiled early in 2012.

The UK-only service, overseen by BBCW chief digital officer Jonathan Green, has been left looking increasingly outdated following the continued rise of SVoD services such as Amazon Video and Netflix, which also offer BBC programming.

The corporation’s commercial arm is understood to be keen to ensure it generates the best possible return for its programming.

Last edited by DVB Cornwall on 22 May 2017 9:00pm - 2 times in total

NG

noggin Founding member 25 May 2017 10:49am

Well the BBC will have a millstone around its neck keeping the DRM licence servers (to let people continue to watch content they've bought) running for a service no longer generating any revenue won't they?

Either that or they'll have to refund or offer DRM-free or differently DRM-ed replacements?

WH

Whitnall 25 May 2017 12:34pm

I would expect a DVD replacement, I-Tunes voucher, or a full refund. Some content is not on I-Tunes or DVD so a refund it is.

Alternatively, maybe a subscription to equal amount spent to the new "Britflix" service.

LL

London Lite Founding member 25 May 2017 12:41pm

Confirmed, BBC Store is closing on Nov 1st, iPlayer access will be removed on June 1.

https://store.bbc.com/customer-info

RE

Rex 25 May 2017 1:27pm

London Lite posted:

Confirmed, BBC Store is closing on Nov 1st, iPlayer access will be removed on June 1.

https://store.bbc.com/customer-info

Going into the main BBC Store site, greets you with the closure notice; they've taken off the ability to buy programmes.

CW

Charlie Wells Moderator 25 May 2017 1:48pm

noggin posted:

Well the BBC will have a millstone around its neck keeping the DRM licence servers (to let people continue to watch content they've bought) running for a service no longer generating any revenue won't they?

Either that or they'll have to refund or offer DRM-free or differently DRM-ed replacements?

Looks like they're going for the refund option, with a new refunds website https://www.bbcstore-refunds.com/.

LL

London Lite Founding member 25 May 2017 3:48pm

Charlie Wells posted:

noggin posted:

Well the BBC will have a millstone around its neck keeping the DRM licence servers (to let people continue to watch content they've bought) running for a service no longer generating any revenue won't they?

Either that or they'll have to refund or offer DRM-free or differently DRM-ed replacements?

Looks like they're going for the refund option, with a new refunds website https://www.bbcstore-refunds.com/.

I've been offered a normal refund or a slightly higher Amazon Video voucher.

DV

dvboy 25 May 2017 6:03pm

London Lite posted:

I've been offered a normal refund or a slightly higher Amazon Video voucher.

Note:

Quote:

This voucher allows you to buy BBC programmes and buy or rent other films and TV shows from Amazon Video. You can browse what’s on offer by clicking here.
You cannot use this voucher to purchase DVDs or Blu-ray discs.
You must have an Amazon account (or create an Amazon account) in order to redeem your voucher.
The value of the voucher will be added as credit to your Amazon account for you to spend on TV shows and films. The credit is only valid until 31st May 2018.

https://store.bbc.com/customer-info

WH

Whitnall 25 May 2017 6:29pm

This is the email they sent.

Quote:

Important Information
Sadly, we have taken the difficult decision to close BBC Store on 1st November 2017.

From today, we are no longer making programmes available to buy on BBC Store. (However, if you have purchased a series pass, those remaining episodes will still appear in My Programmes.)

There is no need to do anything straight away. Your programmes will be available for you to watch on BBC Store (though not on BBC iPlayer) until 1st November 2017. Just sign in to your account and go to My Programmes.

What Does This Mean For Me?

Because you have already purchased a number of programmes from BBC Store, we would like to offer you a refund for the total value of your purchases, which is £XX.

Please note that the value shown here is calculated based on transactions made up until 23:59 on Tuesday 23rd May 2017. If you have made any purchases, requested any refunds since that date, or you have any unused Store Balance, you will receive a further email from us on Friday 26th May with an adjusted value.

As a thank you for being such a loyal customer, we would also like to offer you an Amazon Video voucher for £20.

This voucher allows you to buy BBC programmes and buy and rent other films and TV shows from Amazon Video. You can browse what’s on offer by clicking here. The voucher will be valid until 31st May 2018.

What Do I Have To Do?

When you are ready to close your account, please sign in to BBC Store and follow the instructions.

You will then be taken to details of your personal offer and information about Amazon Video vouchers.

You will be asked for your customer account number, which is XXX.

In order to process your refund, you will be asked to enter the details of the bank account you would like your money to be paid into.

Our sincere thanks for being part of BBC Store.

The BBC will continue to find new ways of making BBC archive content available. And do remember that programmes on BBC iPlayer are now available to watch for up to 30 days after broadcast, alongside a range of complete series and fascinating collections.

Best wishes
The BBC Store Team

DV

DVB Cornwall 25 May 2017 8:27pm

I see they're refunding payments made only. There's no consideration of any promotional discounts on the items. It'll cost significantly more on other platforms to replace some of the content, if available elsewhere, purchased with these discounts.

BU

buster 26 May 2017 2:37pm

I bought the 2016 revival of Goodnight Sweetheart from BBC Store (as it was never released on DVD). I was somewhat surprised to see it start with a second of the BBC1 hippos ident and end with a credit squeeze and announcer VO. I'm guessing for whatever reason that is how it went up on iPlayer, and it was transferred straight to the BBC Store in that format, but a bit shoddy to purchase a programme and basically get an off air recording.

NJ

Neil Jones Founding member 26 May 2017 3:42pm

A lot of iPlayer stuff comes from off-air recordings. Which is fine for that and catch-up purposes but yeah if you buy it off the Store you'd expect at least a clean credit sequence surely?

(May 2017)