BBC Shop closing on March 29th

[Vashetti]

What is happening to BBC Shop.com?

From the 30th March you will no longer be able to buy DVDs, Blu-ray discs, Toys, Games or other BBC related products direct from the BBC at BBC Shop.com in the UK, but you will be able to buy, download and keep digital copies of over 8000 hours of amazing BBC programmes from BBC Store.com.

BBC Store offers new programmes, TV favourites and gems from the amazing BBC Television archives as well as exclusives to BBC Store.

BBC Shop Australia closed on 29th February 2016.

You will still be able to purchase DVDs and branded merchandise direct from the BBC via our US and Canadian Shops.

Why are you no longer selling DVDs, Blu-ray discs and branded merchandise?

The DVD market has been in decline for a number of years as consumers move to digital viewing. The market no longer supports the commercial release of many of the titles we’re able to make available on BBC Store. BBC Worldwide returns profits to the BBC’s Public Service to reinvest in programming.

Where can I buy BBC DVDs, Blu-ray discs and merchandise?

BBC Worldwide will continue to publish DVDs and Blu-ray discs which can still be bought from a wide range of retailers both online, on the high street as well as in supermarkets.

Will BBC Worldwide continue to publish DVDs and Blu-ray discs?

Yes, BBC Worldwide will continue to make popular programmes available on DVD and Blu-ray disc. The cost of releasing programmes can be significant and we have to carefully balance decisions about which programmes to release against factors such as the number of people who may be interested in owning them.

http://www.bbcshop.com

[nastiesexpert]

That's disappointing.
But do they really think we'll be paying good money for downloads that are lower quality than discs?
Downloads that you cannot move about and watch on whatever device you want without taking "unofficial" action in order to do so?

[Groot]

Several, not all, are on Netflix/Hulu/Amazon streaming. They clearly know their customers better than us and if people are opting for that so be it. I buy more household goods from them directly than I do movies anyway, they are a lot higher than Amazon or even B&N if you use a coupon.

[chip75]

Maybe if they'd released more of their titles on Blu-ray people's demand wouldn't have dropped? One day we can watch the show in HD on iPlayer and the next they expect top-money for a standard-definition DVD. Now they want people to pay for titles which could be iPlayer anyway ...

The biggest hit to physical sales, is distributors putting out DVDs of HD shows, it's only natural people go for they HD option on-line (or on DVR). They've hurt themselves.

[Vashetti]

Originally Posted by chip75

Maybe if they'd released more of their titles on Blu-ray people's demand wouldn't have dropped? One day we can watch the show in HD on iPlayer and the next they expect top-money for a standard-definition DVD. Now they want people to pay for titles which could be iPlayer anyway ...

The biggest hit to physical sales, is distributors putting out DVDs of HD shows, it's only natural people go for they HD option on-line (or on DVR). They've hurt themselves.

Yup, Channel 4 with Humans and Utopia (Season 2). Literally have to import from another country to own them in HD on disc, it's ridiculous.

[Cinematt]

The BBC are being cut so deep that's it's just making the best worst decision at this point. They'll still sell through other retailers, but they must struggle to remain competitive in the market as it is, and the choice between having a flagship store that doesn't actually sell that much compared with the quicker cheaper likes of amazon must be an easy cut for them to make. They'll still make retail revenue through other retailers.

[StingingVelvet]

TV on disc is struggling right now unless you're a massive genre hit like Game of Thrones. Not surprising. I fully expect TV to go mostly digital only way before movies do.

[David M]

^ Yeah, TV lends itself to non-physical media quite well. It's more ephemeral in a way movies aren't.

(Not that I wouldn't want my favorite shows in a high quality format though - I'm not saying that!)

[bigdavehopes]

It's a shame their closing their site.

However, i'm trying to order some of the reduced items and the website it absolutely terrible. It doesn't let me checkout. Half the buttons don't work.
I can't log in to my account in order to check out. I even created a new account and tried to get around it that way. but it still requires you to log in which i can't as the button doesn't work!

I just wanna buy some blurays!

[DaveSimonH]

I just hope that any series or films that the BBC don't see the return on investment of a Blu-ray/DVD release, that they will at least consider licensing it out for release by smaller studios (although that seems unlikely now there ar pusing the download/streaming service).
Their releases were already pretty sporadic, I remember watching and really enjoying the mini series "The Silence" and having to import the DVD from Holland. If it can't get a UK release, when it had a talented cast including Douglas Henshall, Dervla Kirwin, Gina McKee & Hugh Bonneville, I guess high viewing figures are among the only criteria they look at.



I was talking to my dad about the bbcshop closure yesterday, he's a big collector of BBC TV on DVD (basically has every Doctor Who DVD now). His first response was wondering whether it was down to the streaming/download site they have now, and wasn't impressed at the prospect of "paying a couple of pounds an episode".

_______

As for more recent BBC content, I enjoyed the first episode of "Thirteen" with a fantastic performance by the lead Jodie Comer;

After thirteen years held captive by her kidnapper, Ivy Moxam escapes. Piecing back together the version of family life that existed before is no easy task.

I'd like to get it on blu-ray, but this news certainly makes me worry about whether it will even get a DVD.

[Wezzo]

Originally Posted by DaveSimonH

As for more recent BBC content, I enjoyed the first episode of "Thirteen" with a fantastic performance by the lead Jodie Comer;

I'd like to get it on blu-ray, but this news certainly makes me worry about whether it will even get a DVD.

It's coming out on DVD but not BD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thirteen-DVD/dp/B01C8KGSYG/

[Vashetti]

I've just been browsing their Attenborough Blu-rays in the hope of snagging some I'm missing, and even at their 'closing down' sale prices, I can get all of them cheaper elsewhere.

Shame.

[Billz]

They've got their bug ugly special edition of season 8 of "Doctor Who" on clearance because of the closure if anybody is interested.

I'm never getting it as it looks tacky and shoddy as Hell, but I know it has some fans here. XD

[Sifox211]

Good price on the Wallace and Gromit collection - £4.89

[Ste7en]

Well, we have the BBC Store now... FWIW

[nastiesexpert]

Originally Posted by Vashetti

Yup, Channel 4 with Humans and Utopia (Season 2). Literally have to import from another country to own them in HD on disc, it's ridiculous.

This is why I got a Bluray Disc Recorder.
I got fed up of seeing shows like Hustle, Jonathan Creek etc shown in HD then released only on dvd.

Wish I'd got one earlier but it's been very useful for things like Creek, Waterloo Road and they've also shown a good few movies in HD across the channels that are yet to appear on Bluray anywhere.

[nastiesexpert]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

Really? What utter rot.

If that were true why then do Simply Media and Acorn both deem it profitable (in the case of Acorn pretty much exclusively build their entire business model around) releasing borderline forgotten 60's thru 80's BBC TV productions while you lot leave such much loved and long demanded titles as the Douglas Wilmer Sherlock Holmes serials and Doomwatch to the BFI and Simply Media respectively?

I would say that Acorn and Simply Media are probably happy with less profit than the BBC so are happy to release many titles that really are a niche within a niche.
And Acorn titles are expensive most of the time , far dearer usually than the BBC ever charge which is why I usually get Acorn titles only in sales.

If they allowed their downloads to be transferrable from one device to another and charged a sensible price it would be ok for some titles but as with Amazon Video I use a screen recorder and have some nice quality MP4 videos to play on the PS3. If that wasn't possible I just wouldn't buy them.
And I only buy a very select number as prices are far too high for a non physical product.

[Albatross365]

Hopefully the BBC will be willing to release the rights for some shows like they did for Joking Apart.

A fan set acquired the rights, restored the picture and added subtitles. He even got cast and writer Steven Moffat to do commentaries!

[mrpants]

[insert something about the licence fee here]