The BBC’s attempts to monetise the iPlayer by offering paid subscriptions outside the UK appear to have failed, with the company announcing the app will shut down later this month.
The Corporation’s for-profit BBC Worldwide arm had launched the iPlayer Global app in numerous countries since 2010, allowing users to pay to access select programming and archive content through the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
In an announcement on the BBC Worldwide website, the Beeb says it is working on new digital services that’ll be available on a wider range of devices.
The statement (via The Next Web) read: “BBC Global iPlayer is closing permanently between 26th May and 26th June 2015. Any subscriptions will be honoured in full and auto-renewals will be switched off automatically after your final subscription term during this period. You will only be able to watch your downloads until the day your subscription lapses. This date can be found on your Subscriptions tab on the iTunes store.
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What the new digital services will entail remains unclear, but one could assume the Beeb is working on a more inclusive service away from the now UK-exclusive iPlayer brand.
Just last week it emerged content licensing restrictions could be eliminated across the EU, allowing folks around the continent to enjoy whatever they wish from services like the iPlayer and Netflix without using VPN services to skirt copyright laws.
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The iPlayer Global service had been available to ex-pats and Fawlty Towers fans in a host of European countries and Canada, but never made it to the United States due to existing deals with networks licensing BBC content.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
