BBC Worldwide has confirmed plans to close the BBC Store with immediate effect.
The service has come under pressure from subscription services such as Netflix and Amazon Video and does not sit with a world where the BBC is under increasing pressure to generate cash outside of the Licence Fee.
“Since the appetite for BBC shows on VOD and other third party platforms is growing in the UK and abroad, it doesn’t make sense for us to invest further in BBC Store where demand has not been as strong as we’d hoped in a rapidly changing market,” a BBC Worldwide spokesperson told Broadband TV News.
Customers will be able to watch the shows they’ve viewed in the BBC Store until November 1. Nor will they lose out financially; full refunds will be offered or an Amazon Video voucher with an additional 10 per cent credit.
BBC Worldwide will continue to sell content through iTunes and other buy to keep stores, while the BBC iPlayer will also highlight archive content.
