There are a lot of caveats though. For a start, programs can only be bought using UK-registered credit or debit cards — meaning the service isn't going to be useful for people outside of the UK. (Americans can purchase BBC shows from iTunes, but the broadcaster says it's also launching a new on-demand service in the US next year.) It's also, according to a report from Engadget, a bit tricky to actually watch what you've bought on the BBC Store. Purchased shows can be played through the iPlayer website or an offline program called the BBC Store Download Manager, but support for iPlayer's apps on TVs, iOS, and Android is still in development. (Although it is available on Windows 10 for mobiles and PCs.)

Despite these limitations, there are at least plenty of shows on offer. As well as contemporary television like Sherlock, Luther, and Doctor Who, classic comedies including Dad's Army, Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, and Absolutely Fabulous will be available. Newly digitized archive footage, such as classic interviews from David Frost, will also be up for download, although The Guardian reports that some older shows now deemed to be racist or sexist will be quarantined in a special "of its time" category. The store is being operated by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, although it's thought that digital downloads won't do much to supplement the subsidiary's income, at least in the short term.