Channel 4 selling TV for 99p

Author: Wil Harris
Published: 16th November 2006

Kate can be yours for 99p. Mmm.

Channel 4 will be selling episodes of its TV programmes online for 99p a time. Shows that have been transmitted recently will be available for download almost as soon as they air.

This means that shows, such as Hollyoaks and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, will be available for catch-up, should viewers not catch them on linear analogue or digital TV.

However, whilst viewers will be able to pay 99p for the show, it will only last for two days after it has been watched for the first time - meaning that the DRM will cripple the file thereafter. Hopes of building up a permanent digital archive of your favourite shows, then, are false.

C4 is also offering some of its archived 'home-grown' programming, including the sublime Father Ted and Peep Show.

The channel has already been offering some US TV imports, such as Lost and Desperate Housewives, for download following UK transmission.

The service will almost certainly be restricted to UK viewers using geo-IP targeting. Speaking to Channel 4 executives earlier this week, bit-tech was told that the broadcaster was not exactly enthusiastic about worldwide, uniform availability of programming.

Will you be looking out classic C4 shows for download? Or does the two day restriction make the service almost meaningless? Let us know your thoughts over in the forums.