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UK producers trial fee-based downloadable episode, concurrent with broadcast.

UK producers get creative on the risks of piracy by offering TV episodes for a fee at the same time as they broadcast.

British TV producers are offering a downloadable episode of a new factual series for a fee, at the same time as it airs on terrestrial television to test the waters for new broadcast models.

Raiders of the Lost Past will premiere today on UK history channel Yesterday and production house World Media Rights is making an extended 55 minute ‘directors cut’ episode available via its website for £4.00 ($6.21AU).

The digital download will be available in a choice of Windows Media Player and MP4 formats on up to three separate devices.

Raiders of the Lost Past explores history’s real-life explorers, adventurers and fanatics who have gone to extremes in search for the truth behind some of history’s most compelling mysteries. It airs globally under its international title Myth Hunters.

Alan Griffiths, CEO World Media Rights said, “We are one of the very few independent producers in the world who offer the programmes we make available to own from our website www.worldmediarights.com. We find that viewers get very frustrated if they can’t get a copy of a programme they’ve seen on TV immediately after transmission.

“This trial is to test viewers’ demand for this type of service.”

A recent Australian survey by ACMA found half of its respondents intending to access an online video service in the next six months indicated they were prepared to pay for it.

9 Responses

  1. @Brekkie – I like the idea that archaeologists in the future will dig up an old DVD of “Raiders of the Lost Past” and be surprised to see that it contains the same content as what is playing at the time on Channel 3717.

  2. The only place I’ve seen this mentioned is here – not picked up at all on the UK media sites I visit, and if it’s a Yesterday show anyway it’ll be repeated every week for the next 700 years anyway, so no point buying episodes if you miss them.

  3. I admire their forward-thinking and actually trying to meet the needs of modern viewers. But at those prices they won’t get too far ahead. Why do they have to be so greedy?

  4. In America you can watch On Demand content (Pretty much most commercial shows) through your cable provider from Midnight on the night it is shown. And its included with your subscription. Ive never understood why we cant do something similar here. And please dont compare Foxtel On Demand! It is like the stone age compared.
    There is no need for even a PVR in the states…. as everything is On Demand, and no im not talking about TIVO.

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