BBC Worldwide Consumer Products (formerly 2entertain will release its first UltraViolet-enabled DVD and Blu-ray titles in the UK in time for Christmas 2012. Both the DVD and Blu-ray for each title will be UV-enabled.

The four UV-enabled titles - Doctor Who Series 7 Part 1, John Bishop's new stand up title Rollercoaster, the new Top Gear special commission and Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild, the forthcoming retrospective on Sir David Attenborough's sixty years in natural history broadcasting - will be released from late October onwards.

The UltraViolet technology will give purchasers of BBC Worldwide's physical DVDs the additional right to a free digital copy of the programme or show which can be redeemed and subsequently accessed via an ever-increasing array of devices including computers, tablets and smartphones. Streaming and download access are supported to enable both online and offline viewing.

Centred on interoperable cloud-based account management and content delivery, UltraViolet has been developed through DECE (Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem) - an open cross industry consortium including the major movie studios, technology providers, consumer device makers, entertainment retailers and video service providers.

For its initial slate of UV-enabled titles, BBC Worldwide has teamed up with content delivery partner Flixster, which will also act as the supporting site for consumers to redeem the digital copy of their purchases. Details concerning the redemption process will be provided on a leaflet, designed in collaboration with other participating studios, which will be in the DVD case. Post-launch, users will be able to visit a BBC Worldwide site for further information after which they will be automatically transferred to the relevant Flixster location.

Lesley Johnson, Head of Production at BBC Worldwide Consumer Products, participated to a panel on UltraViolet at the London Video Rendezvous organized by DVD Intelligence on 18 June. The video of the entire session can be seen here.

Story filed 06.10.12