extract from email received today

WHY! They already took BBC Three from us!

I didn't even know they had a shop.

Though maybe that's why it's being taken down. :P

More small steps being made to dismantle the BBC.... such a shame, hope people are happy when all their TV is watered down Murdoch like commercial rubbish... just hope more Netflix like companies are made that will make some good stuff away from the broadcasters, we'll have to pay more for it but that's the price we pay....

It is the BBC shop that is closing and nothing to do with the commissioning of programming.

You can still buy BBC DVDs, Blu Rays and merchandise from the usual Internet outlets.

But its still chipping away at things the BBC does, significant or otherwise, its all about slowly reducing what the BBC does so they become less influential and more weaker to the point where the bias who are against the BBC can call for a full dismantle...

Oh BBC Shop and not BBC Store. I was worried then.

This has got nothing to do with charter renewal or the government.

The BBC Shop is a completely commercial operation run by BBC Worldwide, whose entire remit is to return money to the BBC to supplement the licence fee. If something they do fails to make money, or fails to return enough in proportion to the investment made, then it's future existence is entirely at the discretion of BBC Worldwide. If they decide to close it down then you can assume that there's a sound financial reason for doing so.

The BBC shop has had a lot of offers recently, 25% off plus free postage is a good deal.

Presumably those sorts of offers mean that it'snot making any money!

Business will likely transfer to BBC Store.

I've had the impression the new store is downloads only. No physical media. Is that right?

My guess as well.

That's a shame!

Bought series 1 and series 2 of the Nicholas Lyndhurst/Celia Imrie comedy After You've Gone off eBay three weeks ago. On that particular listing it said 'BBC Shop'.

So basically, I bought the DVDs, and eBay goes through BBC Shop and then posts the DVDs to me within 48 hours of ordering. Unless I buy them on a Saturday or Sunday, in which case they will be posted on the next available week day.

I guess soon, there will no longer be a BBC Shop at eBay either.

That's what I've read recently, too. Don't know how true it is, though.

Or, more likely, BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm who operate BBC Shop, and who are tasked with selling BBC programming and maximising profits) has decided that such a venture is no longer profitable (considering the size & buying power of other online retailers such as Amazon and Base), and that it makes commercial sense to exit that market.

It is streaming and download only.

Great news - NOT. Don't know how my 0.6Mbs internet will cope! Better start downloading Series 10 now.

Yes and so far viewable on phones and tablets. I've not been able to watch it on television. When I tried it on my television browser,all I get was a black screen and the audio track.

Why? It's bound to be released on DVD and Blu-ray, and available from online stores such as Amazon, and probably from Tescos and Sainsburys too.

No-one has said that future BBC programmes won't be released on those formats, just that the BBC won't be selling those formats via their own online website.

Chromecast support (within iPlayer) is supposedly coming.

Some really good bargains on the site right now, if people are interested.

I hope you're right. I enjoy having the physical media which gives me the content in the highest quality form available, flexibilty and a sense of permanent ownership.

I still buy CDs, and then rip them losslessly myself into my NAS for personal use. I hated it when a couple of so-called "bonus" tracks on the recent DW soundtracks were only available by purchasing them from iTunes. They're the only downloads I've ever purchased (and I don't do piracy). You can't buy them in a lossless format.

As for video, I have a couple of the streaming services, and I use catch up services like iPlayer on my Sky box, but the PQ is variable at best, sometimes interrupted, even when you have a decent broadband connection.

For me, Blu Ray (4K already here for some titles) is best.

The only reason for the move to downloads and streaming is that it's cheaper and less vulnerable to piracy than making and distributing physical media.

Ooh, yes thanks. Oh dear, I sense another Classic DVD purchase coming up

Series 8 blu Ray less than 16 Euro is pretty darn good.


Have to see if it's worth while buying some things once shipping is taken into account.

Just got some nice bits and bibs from the BBC Shop. A shame it's going, as I visit the website from time to time and get some stuff via there from Ebay too.