BBC on iTunes this week?

TV shows from the BBC may soon appear on the iTunes Store, reports claim. Cited is an anonymous source in the TV industry, who claims that BBC Worldwide will announce its plans on Tuesday. The source further suggests that Worldwide's digital media director, Simon Danker, has already contacted a number of third-party production companies to let them know of the new sales market. It is unclear whether shows would be available solely in the UK, or also on iTunes sites in Canada and the US; BBC Worldwide is said to be under pressure, however, to send more income from selling shows to the core of the BBC, given a dwindling benefit from TV license fees.

The BBC will be be adopting Apple video formats in at least one regard, as its iPlayer catch-up service is due on Macs by the end of the year. It may also appear on the Apple TV, according to BBC technology director Ashley Highfield. The catch is that while either should allow free viewing of TV shows, iPlayer as a whole is only available to UK residents, and episodes expire after a week.

by MacNN Staff