Talk:The Web of Fear (TV story)

Streaming site information vs. iTunes
I'm glad that Notsimonpegg added some streaming information. I thought myself that it is relevant (though potentially changeable). I could not provide such information myself, not being a user of these services.

However, I am proposing not to conflate iTunes releases with streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, etc. Here is the reason: there is a fundamental difference in how these operate. When I buy a serial at iTunes, I can download it and store it locally. In a sense, I own this serial from now on and can, therefore, be sure of its availability. By contrast, when I sign up for, say, Hulu Plus, I can stream anything in their library, but they can in the future remove this particular serial from their library. In fact, there was recently a big scare that Netflix would stop streaming Doctor Who. Thus, the availability of serials on streaming services have a temporary nature.

My proposal is, therefore, not to include the streaming information into iTunes/Digital releases, but make a separate section instead, e.g., "Streaming Availability." If this information is kept up-to-date, it is potentially even more useful than, say, the VHS releases, so clearly deserves its place on the Wikia. If this is accepted as a general policy, I would be happy to contribute to the Netflix (US) data. Amorkuz ☎  08:13, August 17, 2015 (UTC)

I can somewhat agree with these sentiments. I'm surpised no-one has added this information beforehand. I don't use the services either but the information can be found on their websites or on external sites that collate information on the content of the websites.

The planned launch of the BBC digital store later this year will also likely affect the availability of streaming/downloads too.

At the same time there is some crossover too. Amazon offers both subscription streaming and individual purchase of stories, but I don't believe can be downloaded. And although iTunes purchases can be downloaded, they are still restricted by DRM and the way the videos are encoded, meaning its fuctionality may be rendered useless in theory if the format or the way iTunes operates at the moment alters at some point in the future. Just as enhanced podcasts are no longer supported as they used to, or older ebooks may not be supported by modern ereaders or software. So both are ephemeral in that sense.

If not as a section of its own, but at least as a Subheading 2 within the digital info. Notsimonpegg ☎  13:40, August 17, 2015 (UTC)