Top Gear is the second BBC series now available to rent via its Facebook page. The initial offering of three episodes – the Polar Special, US Road Trip and Vietnam Road Trip – will cost 15 Facebook Credits (€1.06) each. Once rented, they will be available to view for 48 hours.
BBC Worldwide, the commercial division of the BBC, is moving further into the digital space and allowing its products to be accessed via Facebook, for a price. Dr Who was the first BBC show to be available to rent via its Facebook page. Users also have to pay in Facebook credits. The cost for each set of episodes is 15 credits, or the equivalent of €1.06.
As it does with games like Zynga’s FarmVille, Facebook will take a 30% cut of each sale. A nice margin.
Dr Who and Top Gear will now be accessible by Facebook users in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
This is a further advance for Facebook as it seeks to become a major distribution hub for digital content. Earlier this year Warner Bros. became the first major studio to rent its films on Facebook. Miramax recently launched a movie streaming service through Facebook at a cost of 30 Facebook Credits per movie.
BBC Worldwide’s strategy now seems clearly focused on digital platforms. Last week it sold its magazine business to private equity firm Exponent for £121m. The Radio Times and Top Gear magazine were included in the sale.
BBC Worldwide has seen a surge in traffic to its various sites from Facebook. For example, 30% of all TopGear.com’s traffic comes from Top Gear’s Facebook page. “Top Gear has amassed a huge following on Facebook with almost 14 million friends following the brand itself and the Stig,” said the show’s managing director, Adam Waddell.

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