The BBC today confirmed reports which first appeared in the Telegraph earlier this week and announced that its digital download store is to close on November 1st.
Available via the online version of iPlayer, tablet and smartphone apps, the BBC Store has struggled to attract sufficient custom to remain commercially viable.
Launched in 2015 the store aimed to open up the BBC archives of past shows, including those which were less likely to enjoy a DVD or Blu-ray release or be of interest to 3rd party retailers.
However limited availability – purchases were inaccessible on Smart TVs and platforms such as Sky, Freeview Play and YouView – and the rise of subscription streaming services such as Netflix meant it struggled to attract custom.
From today users will no longer be able to buy new shows and existing purchases will cease to be viewable from 1st November 2017. Customers will receive a refund for any purchases made.