Further to the news earlier this week that ABC Shops now offer downloads, it is offering viewers a free first episode of We Can Be Heroes, Kylie Kwong, Sleek Geeks and Bananas in Pyjamas for viewing.
The shows will be viewable in an online media player. Users will need to register a credit card, but it won’t be charged.
From the 250 hours of catalogued shows, single episodes will be available to rent from $2.95. Rented programming can be viewed an unlimited number of times for 7 days.
“The launch of the ABC Shop Downloads is part of a broader ABC Commercial strategy to open up new revenue streams in this emerging and increasingly important market,” the Director of ABC Commercial, Lynley Marshall said.
Press Release:
IN BRIEF
• ABC Commercial today launches ABC Shop Downloads (see it at http://shop.abc.net.au/downloads).
• For the first time online customers will be able to preview, buy and download a selection of programming from the ABC’s extensive library.
• An initial catalogue of 250 hours of video, including iconic Australian programmes such as Kylie Kwong and Summer Heights High will be available on a sale or rental basis.
• The Downloads service is based on a free Media Player that provides state of the art picture quality and integrates web browser and desktop in a seamless customer experience.
• This ground-breaking Australian media technology project was delivered in eight months from conception to launch.
ABC Commercial, the commercial arm of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, today launches its ABC Shop Downloads service at http://shop.abc.net.au/downloads.
Video content that was previously only available on DVD – and soon music and audiobook content too – can now be previewed, bought and downloaded directly from ABC Shop Online. Amongst the 250 hours of content offered in the initial catalogue are comedy hits such as Aunty Jack and The Chaser’s War on Everything, factual programming such as Four Corners and Enough Rope, children’s programming that includes Bananas in Pyjamas and The Fairies and a feast of cookery titles from The Cook & the Chef to Surfing the Menu.
Single episodes will be available to rent from as little as $2.95. Rented programming can be viewed an unlimited number of times for 7 days.
The Downloads service is based on a media player the ABC developed in conjunction with local technology company Hyro in just eight months and is based on Microsoft’s Silverlight technology and the Kontiki peer-to-peer distribution system. In the coming months, the player will be enhanced to offer new services such as the ability to rate online clips, send clips to a friend, comment, bundling of episodes in a series and search within the player itself.
“The development of the ABC Shop Downloads media player is yet more proof that the ABC is the leading broadcaster in the digital space in Australia,” the Director of ABC Commercial, Lynley Marshall said.
“In recent years Australia has seen a phenomenal increase in the demand for digital content through such means as pay-per-view and digital downloads,” Ms Marshall said. “The launch of the ABC Shop Downloads is part of a broader ABC Commercial strategy to open up new revenue streams in this emerging and increasingly important market”.
“The Shop Downloads service significantly extends the product offering of the ABC Shop online, which is already one of Australia’s leading online commercial sites. I’m delighted that our audiences now have an easy and convenient digital option to purchase our content.”
“The ABC Shop Downloads media player, which was developed entirely in Australia, makes it easy for customers to view and download media from both their web browser and their desktop. The media player will allow us to deliver high quality content across different platforms in just a few clicks.”
About ABC Commercial
ABC Commercial is involved in the creation, licensing and marketing of consumer products and services relating to the programming and charter activities of the ABC. Each year more than 800 new consumer products are created or licensed including DVDs, music, books, magazines and audiobooks.These products are made available through ABC Shops, ABC Centres, ABC Shop Online and other retail outlets. Profits from ABC Commercial are used to fund the ABC’s core public service broadcasting activities.
I think its great for some things that are not available in the store, like the Aunty Jack eps that say “not available in store”. But would I pay $2.95 to see them? hmm maybe. I guess it depends on the show. Looking at what is there now though, there is nothing I want. I guess we will wait and see what else they offer up.
My main issue with buying eps online is not the cost but the size of the files. The help guide says they are 350mb for 30mins. Just getting a handful of eps each month might put a lot of people over their bandwidth quota. I’d rather have smaller lower quality files at a smaller cost. If I’m only keeping them 7 days then I don’t see why they need to be such high quality.
Is this the ABC shop, or the Chris Lilley shop??
While i like the lower restrictions, i object to paying $2.95 for 1 episode, when i find $30 for DVD of a whole season (13 to 24 episodes) a tad too pricey.
I’m a bit old for Bananas in Pyjamas now and the others don’t appeal to me, so i wouldn’t download them if they were free anyway, even so there is no show i would pay $3 per episode for.