Doctor Who rental service launches on Facebook
BBC Worldwide has signed a deal with Facebook enabling users of the social networking site to rent full Doctor Who episodes using its credit system.
Digitally remastered classic series stories, such as the 1967 serial Tomb of the Cybermen, and episodes from the new series, including Silence in the Library, can be rented for 48 hours and streamed through the official Doctor Who Facebook page. It’s available for users in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand!
“We’ve seen through our Facebook channel that fans who are loving the new series are asking for a guide into our Doctor Who back catalogue,” said Chief Executive at BBC Worldwide, John Smith. “Our approach to Facebook and other leading edge platforms is to be right there alongside them in fostering innovation. We see this service as a perfect way to give our fans what they want, as well as a great way for them to get their fix between now and the autumn when Series Six continues”.
Christian Hernandez, Director, Platform Partnerships commented: “Through its Facebook page, BBC Worldwide is giving Doctor Who fans a quick way to access iconic episodes.”
It sometimes feels like we pay for episodes of DW over and over.
Having paid my Licence Fee and bought the DVD’s I feel episodes should be available free on iPlayer, to UK residents at least, rather than BBC Worldwide trying to make yet more cash from them.
@David
I guess it’s more for people who haven’t already bought them. You’re not obliged to rent them on Facebook, I know I won’t be! It’s a good way to introduce older stories to a wider audience though.
@David Unfortunately due to the appalling state of the TV show, it’s being split into 2 seasons and the announcement that the full box set is not due out until next year (which is being called “commercial suicide”) the BBC are having to make money somehow to pay for the ridiculous amounts of proposed commentators for next years Olympics.
As for Rassilon’s Rod rather bizzarre “I guess it’s more for people who haven’t already bought them”, as an enforced licence payer, we already have paid for them and really they should be on the BBC, they have enough channels!
The BBC should either follow their mandate or become a channel obsessed with ratings!
@Steve
In that case then, it’s “rather bizarre” that you should have to pay for the DVDs, seeing as you’ve already paid for them! Maybe you actually believe that – get real! I say again, no one is forcing anybody to rent these things, it’s just a different option to view the stories, and my point was that if it enables older stories to be seen by new viewers who might not otherwise see them, then it’s a good thing. And they’re shown plenty on the BBC, have you not heard of BBC3? They show nothing but!
@Rassilon’s Rod The DVD’s are full of extras that would never appear on the BBC. Really, name one other classic story this year other than The Hand Of Fear that has appeared on BBC3. Also you claim “And they’re shown plenty on the BBC, have you not heard of BBC3? They show nothing but!”, if this is the case, please explain the point of putting them onto Facebook to rent? You can’t because the BBC have no interest in showing something on it’s channels when it can profit from. The idea that the BBC are a non-profit organisation is an illusion. The idea that they really care about Sci-Fi is a farce!
Why rent when you can just watch for free on youtube or Dailymotion? No point watching it on FB as exciting as it is.