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BBC to start online music service

4 September 2008 14:50 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 8 comments

BBC Worldwide has announced they are set to launch a fully ad-supported online music service which will allow users to access free and paid audio and video content from the BBC.

The content will include coverage from shows such as "Top of the Pops" and is set to directly compete with Apple's iTunes as well as Amazon and Sky who offer similar services.

The service will launch with only 1000 audio tracks but will also include about 300 TV episodes and radio music programs including Radio 1's "Live Lounge."

BBC says they hope to offer up to 50,000 audio tracks and 3000 hours of video while using the full BBC archive.

The broadcaster has a beta launch set for November with a full rollout expected by January.

Differentiating the new service from, lets say iTunes, is that you can stream the entire video you want to watch for free, only with a few ads in the way. It is basically like Hulu except that you can pay to purchase the videos before and after you have watched the file of your choosing. Making it even better, the files are DRM-free if you purchase them.

Analysts expect half of the revenue for the service to come from subscriptions with the other half coming from advertising.

A BBC Worldwide spokesman added: "We're exploring a range of opportunities around direct to consumer websites and the utilisation of the BBC music archive. At present, no launches have been approved".

There was no word on price yet.

Permalink to this article | Topics: MP3 & Digital Audio Online music services Online video

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Discuss this article!
windsong (Junior Member) 4 September 2008 20:44
Yawn.. No one gives a $hit about it if it has "one or two ads". Not when we have Usenet, P2P, FTP, etc. Just die already. [ + quote]
DRokKer (Newbie) 4 September 2008 21:12
The BBC using ads! then they still expect me to pay them my licence fee! feck no! their trying to sell back to us what is already ours! [ + quote]
Batangas (Newbie) 5 September 2008 1:25
Licences only apply in the UK, at least the BBC are trying (no pun intended) these services has been available in the US for a while now, and it is restricted to the US only, where as this seems to be for the world network. I wish people would understand what they are reading before shouting off. Have a nice day, I am looking forward to this. [ + quote]
varnull (Inactive) 5 September 2008 4:12
Top of the Pops was axed years ago... along with most other BBC home made content that was relevant or worth watching. Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. Just put your hands up its a raid! [ + quote]
DRokKer (Newbie) 5 September 2008 5:38
*Originally posted by Batangas:* Licences only apply in the UK, at least the BBC are trying (no pun intended) these services has been available in the US for a while now, and it is restricted to the US only, where as this seems to be for the world network. I wish people would understand what they are reading before shouting off. Have a nice day, I am looking forward to this. i did read and understand perfectly. im "shouting off" as you so eloquently put it, about the fact im still expected to pay a licence fee to them. they take my money use it to fund there worldwide internet infrastructure. they then make vast profits and my licence fee still goes up every year! do try to keep up batangas. [ + quote]
1bonehead (Senior Member) 5 September 2008 13:07
sounds like everyone is trying to get on the internet video on demand "gravey train" The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. [ + quote]
Danamic (Newbie) 5 September 2008 19:49
Im looking forward to this service. Ill try to get onto the beta again. BBC iplayer has decreased my activity on trackers, and to be honest I dont mind if there are 1-2 ads, itll be content that is easily accessable, legal to listen to and free. Who wants to waste HDD space on stuff you can just connect to? Thats all I want with content nowadays. GO GO BBC :D [ + quote]
Allyduan (Inactive) 9 September 2008 4:03
spam removed [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 5 November 2008 13:40