After bringing some of the best DVD, Blu-Ray, audiobook, toy and memorabilia deals from top telly such as Doctor Who and Sherlock BBCShop.com is changing its business model to sell only digital video content from March 29th.
In a statement on the site the Beeb says:
“The DVD market has been in decline for a number of years as consumers move to digital viewing. The market no longer supports the commercial release of many of the titles we’re able to make available on BBC Store. BBC Worldwide returns profits to the BBC’s Public Service to reinvest in programming.”
DVDs/Blu-Rays and merchandise will still continue to be made and sold through entertainment retail chains such as HMV but the BBCShop.com will instead be used to sell over 8,000 hours of classic and contemporary digital TV from the BBC archives for download and keeps as it merges with the BBC Store. As a final blowout the BBC Shop is offering some of its best deals to date including Doctor Who: The Complete David Tennant Years for £40 instead of £99.99 and shop exclusives such as a Sherlock Espresso Set with cups and saucers for only £6.80, down from £16.99.
Following closure of the BBC Shop Australia on February 29th the UK site will shut doors on March 29th following Europe on March 21st. Customers have been informed via email that their personal data including address, email and purchase history will be retained for the purpose of improving services and tailoring them to customer interests, but any payment and credit card data will be erased from BBC records.
Profits from the BBC Shop were plugged into new programming and services and the broadcaster’s primary focus at the moment is regaining revenue generated through that programming. This was also reflected recently when it was revealed that viewers of BBC iPlayer will be fined for watching the on-demand service through their telly if they do not have a TV licence.
Also See: BBC iPlayer Viewers Will No Longer Be Exempt From TV Licence