Jordan O'BrienBBC iPlayer is one of the most popular streaming services in the UK, although many of the BBC’s older shows aren’t present on iPlayer. Now fans of old BBC series have another way to get their favourite show – whether that show is Absolutely Fabulous or classic Doctor Who – thanks to the launch of BBC Store.
BBC Store offers a wide range of classic and recent BBC series that may not be available on iPlayer, including Poldark, Only Fools and Horses, The Great British Bake Off and more.
So why choose the BBC Store over the likes of Netflix, iTunes or Amazon Instant Video? Well, BBC Store is the most comprehensive selection of BBC shows anywhere on the web.
The BBC Store promises to meld both new and old shows together in one place. Someone purchasing a series pass to Doctor Who series nine will receive not only previous episodes in the series, but also new ones as they air. New shows will be added by 1am the following day.
Roughly 7,000 hours of TV is available on BBC Store at launch, including shows that have never been made available digitally before – including Dad’s Army and Morecambe & Wise.
Shows purchased on BBC Store can be viewed on BBC iPlayer on the web – although a dedicated BBC Store App will be launched for iOS and Android. BBC iPlayer’s App for Smart TVs, set-top boxes and gaming consoles are set to get an update, although the corporation has yet to reveal when.
Pricing of series and episodes on BBC Store are similar to those on Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video – with individual episodes costing around £1.89 for SD content and £2.49 for HD episodes.
Some things are more affordable on the BBC Store however. Doctor Who season 8 for example costs £19.99 for SD or £24.99 for HD, compared to Amazon and Google’s price of £23.99 and £29.99 respectively.
Many of the shows available on BBC Store can also be bought on DVD or Blu-Ray and that’s where things get tricky. DVD and Blu-Ray prices tend to be below that of their digital counterparts – meaning it may often be more economical to get a physical disc rather than just the digital download.
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