Unlike traditional streaming services requiring subscriptions, Hoopla’s free model removes barriers to entry, potentially introducing British literary properties to millions of new readers.

From Threat to Opportunity: How Free BBC Content Access Sparks Book Sales

The BBC’s expanded presence on Hoopla Digital represents a paradigm shift for publishing. With nearly 300 episodes now available free through library cards, titles like Call the Midwife, Father Brown, and Ripper Street are primed to drive significant book sales increases – historically, TV adaptations boost book sales by 44% in the UK market.

The Adaptation Advantage: Data-Driven Success

Research from the Publishers Association reveals book-based TV productions attract 58% higher viewership than original scripts. A BBC adaptation of Normal People propelled Sally Rooney’s novel to become the fourth-highest selling book of 2020, demonstrating the sustained commercial impact. Similarly, Dickens’ back catalogue sales more than doubled following BBC adaptations (and no royalties to pay! Publishers were laughing all the way to the bank!).

American Market Penetration Strategy

Hoopla’s reach across 11,500+ public libraries provides unprecedented access to British content in the US market. This exposure creates multiple revenue streams: original tie-in editions, companion books, and similar genre titles.

The Daisy Jones & The Six adaptation saw immediate sales spikes, while The Handmaid’s Tale continues generating Margaret Atwood royalties decades after publication.

The View From The Beach

Forward-thinking publishers should coordinate release schedules with streaming availability, develop companion content exploiting renewed interest, and identify backlist titles with adaptation potential. The 39% increase in Hoopla borrows during 2025 signals growing appetite for British content among American audiences.

This library-based distribution model democratises access while creating sustainable discovery mechanisms. Unlike traditional streaming services requiring subscriptions, Hoopla’s free model removes barriers to entry, potentially introducing British literary properties to millions of new readers.

Publishers must view this not as competition but as sophisticated marketing infrastructure converting viewers into book buyers.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.