The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has announced they are working on a video-based digital downloading service akin to iTunes that will allow users to access both old and new programming for a small fee.
Though pricing and timeframes haven’t been set yet, Director General Mark Thompson said the digital shop–code named Project Barcelona–would be the equivalent to buying a DVD of a favorite show.
“Our ambition would ultimately be to let everyone who pays the license fee access all of our programs on this basis and, over time, to load more and more of our archive,” said Thompson.
A service like this one is expected to rival other content suppliers like iTunes, and because BBC programs are currently available on iTunes, some viewers are wary of such a service, wondering if content will become solely available on the BBC version. Others are anticipating it to become one they will primarily use.
@mashable: BBC confirms its iTunes competitor is in the works – http://t.co/UCvlN9RM
Hope this doesn’t stop them putting stuff on itunes RT:@mashable: BBC confirms its iTunes competitor is in the works – http://t.co/RfUWCsZe”
Might as well be an Onion headline. “