BBC puts Top Gear specials on Facebook

Stephen Withers
Monday, 22 August 2011 16:47

Your IT - Entertainment

Top Gear will be joining Doctor Who as the BBC expands its selection of video rentals on Facebook.

Last month, BBC Worldwide started offering a selection of Doctor Who stories - classic and modern - for rent on Facebook. It was clear that Doctor Who was just the first property to get the Facebook treatment, and now the BBC is following up with Top Gear content.

Launching with the Polar Special today, the specials will be staggered throughout the coming weeks and available for users in Europe, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Once rented, episodes will be available to view for 48 hours. Facebook credits provide a familiar and consistent payment experience, and a trusted space to store payment information. Credits can be purchased within an app, or through the payments tab within the users account settings.

BBC Worldwide runs both the Top Gear Facebook fan page, which has over 8.8 million fans and The Stig fan page which has over 5 million fans. Combined they claim to have more fans than inhabitants of Manhattan, which is the final destination of the US Road Trip - the second episode set to air online. It is the 25th largest TV show on Facebook, and the biggest British TV show on Facebook.

"Top Gear has amassed a huge following on Facebook with almost 14 million friends following the brand itself and The Stig. We're always looking at ways of adding value for the core fans of the show so it's entirely appropriate that we should be one of the first TV shows to make its premium content available via Facebook," said Adam Waddell, managing director of Top Gear.

Rental fees are payable in Facebook credits, which can be purchased within the app or via the user's account settings page.