In a speech to the Royal Television Society last week, BBC DG Mark Thompson confirmed plans for an iTunes-style download service that will allow viewers to buy programmes after they”ve aired on TV.

Dubbed Project Barcelona, the scheme will allow viewers to “purchase a digital copy of a programme to own.”

Heading off potential criticism about the BBC charging for content, he said: “This is not a second licence-fee by stealth – it’;s the exact analogy of going into a high-street shop to buy a DVD. For decades the British public has understood the distinction between watching Dad’;s Army on BBC1 and then going out to buy a permanent copy of it. Barcelona is the digital equivalent of the second.”