BBC 'Devaluing' With DVD

The BBC have made a controversial move by releasing the third and final series of Gavin & Stacey on DVD just in time for Christmas.
The series written by James Corden and Ruth Jones and, starring Joanna Page and Mathew Horne,
made a welcome return to the small screen only last month, with one of the most recent episodes pulling in five million viewers to BBC1.
The release is being criticised at a time when the series is currently only midway through its screening on television. Critics agree that licence-fee payers, who have funded the show, should be able to watch the entire series first and that the move is "devaluing" the licence fee.
The BBC have also been accused of spending public money to further DVD sales revenues for its commercial arm, BBC worldwide. The claim comes after it paid to advertise the DVD during the X Factor on ITV.
A spokesperson for the BBC agreed that the DVD release was scheduled to exploit demand from Christmas shoppers, but that any profits would benefit licence-fee payers in the long term.
BBC productions such as Pride and Prejudice and Mistresses have also been released this way in the past.
(BMcN/BMcc)