Blinkbox signs content deal with BBC Worldwide

Popular shows such as Top Gear, Planet Earth and Doctor Who will be available on the Blinkbox site, following a deal between BBC Worldwide and the online video platform. The deal is the latest in a string of moves in the UK video-on-demand (VoD) market, as a host of online players hustle to fill the void left by the collapse of the joint online venture, Kangaroo.

Under the agreement, Blinkbox gains access to some 75 BBC series, though it will not have to the rights to any newly-aired programmes, which appear on BBC's iPlayer platform for seven days after they are first shown. BBC Worldwide will make content available to Blinkbox a minimum of 180 days after programmes are first aired on TV.

While some BBC content will be available on a free and ad-supported basis, viewers will need to pay to watch popular DVD series such as Gavin and Stacey, Spooks and Top Gear. These will be priced at GBP1.89 per-episode, with full-series tariffs yet to be finalised.

The BBC Worldwide deal marks the first agreement between Blinkbox and a major UK broadcaster. However, UK-based Blinkbox says it is also in talks with ITV and Channel 4.

The streaming site, which lets users buy or rent film and TV titles, has existing partnerships with a number of film and TV producers including Warner Bros, Universal, Sony Pictures, Discovery and All3Media. Popular TV shows on the site include Friends, ER and Shameless, while the most-watched films on the service include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Twilight.

BBC Worldwide recently signed a similar content deal with Microsoft’s recently-launched VoD platform and is reportedly in talks with YouTube and Hulu over providing full-length programme rights in the UK. Both firms are eying moves into the long-form UK VoD market, with Arqiva also planning to launch an online programme platform after buying the technology behind failed VoD venture Kangaroo. This joint venture between ITV, Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide was blocked by the Competition Commission earlier this year for being anti-competitive.