Channel five is to become the first TV download shop by giving viewers the opportunity to download DVD-quality clips of popular car show Fifth Gear. You won’t be able to downlad whole episodes, but petrolheads will be able to download snippets of things like the BMW 1 series and the race between the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Ducati 999 for £1.50 each. It will also provide program features such as reviews of 12 cars and 'shoot-outs', which involve races between two similar vehicles.
The video system is designed by London, UK-based 7 Digital, which develops music download stores for artists, record labels and retailers. It incorporates management facilities, billing and real-time reporting, cataloguing and search capabilities.
The move by Channel Five comes a month after internet monitoring company Envisional reported that UK consumers are the world's biggest TV pirates, illegally downloading US hits such as 24, Desperate Housewives and Six Feet Under. The videos offered by Five will be protected by Microsoft's DRM copyright technology in an effort to clamp down on the illegal activity.
Download company 7 Digital, which is providing the technology for the online shop, said TV companies were increasingly keen to earn money from the internet. Managing director Ben Drury said: "Broadcasters have seen the revenues attainable from music downloads and are eager to do the same with their own content.
"TV footage can work so much harder for broadcasters, with the internet now a commercially sound distribution channel."
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Does anyone know where I could purchase any or all of the fifth gear series on dvd?
Posted by: tears and gears | April 25, 2006 at 05:11 AM