London: BBC, a media channel that offers global news and highlights 24 hours a day is planning to launch its iPlayer app as a commercial subscription for iPad users of U.S. Because it cannot charge for the content in the UK, BBC is working to offer paid subscription access to its content in foreign markets, with the U.S being one of its first targets reports Daniel Eran DilgerLuke Bradley-Jones, managing director of BBC.com said "planning for the Global iPlayer to initially launch just on the iPad platform, as it provides such potential to develop a truly interactive video-on-demand service, and also maps pretty nicely on to our core target audience for the service."
BBC offers a free iPlayer iOS app exclusively to UK residents, who already pay TV licensing fees to support the company's programming. The UK government charges its residents an annual "colour TV" license fee of 145.50 pounds ($227), which is used to support television and radio broadcasts and production, and also covers the online delivery of its programming, including mobile delivery via its free iPlayer app.
Eventually, BBC hopes to branch out to offer a combination of subscription access, digital downloads, and pay per view offerings, and is looking into opportunities to work with advertisers to sponsor free content.
BBC decision to reach out markets outside UK comes from the fact that it has limitations by its rivals in broadcasting and publishing its content. Among other restrictions, BBC is not allowed to expand into magazine publishing, local journalism, and the online market.
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