BBC Discusses PVR Software, Creative Archive Plans

Fidigit writes "You may have heard something about the BBC Internet Media Player {iMP) - a computer-based PVR for the BBC's TV and radio content, 'only... available to UK broadband users', which'll use P2P to shuttle content around between downloaders. Now we hear the iMP content will distributed using DRM, using Microsoft's DRM technology, 'in a break with the BBC's long-standing support of Real.'" The previously mentioned BBC Creative Archive is also discussed - apparently its content "...will be downloaded using a similar application, but will not be restricted by DRM, enabling people to re-edit it, or use it to make other programmes" - the content "will not be the complete BBC archive", but an example given of the initial content is "nature programmes".

Comments

Good Idea

[OPTiX_iNC]

If you have all the p2p people dowloading the legit programs, then they don't have time to download all the illegal stuff.

What about the jackass who decides to rename his entire porn collection to titles of children's shows?

The US needs something like this!

[Anonymous Coward]

Cuz between p2p networks, newsgroups, and torrents, I can't find any TV Shows :(

At last! Digital quality BBC recordings..

[Channard]

Maybe leading to the creation a distributed archive of sorts, because the BBC doesn't exactly have a great track record of keeping its own archives, having wiped a great many programmes from its own archives. I can see it now - 'BBC appeals to PVR owners after short sightedly deleting every episode of Dr Who in archives'

Re:At last! Digital quality BBC recordings..

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

the BBC doesn't exactly have a great track record of keeping its own archives, having wiped a great many programmes from its own archives.

Well no, those records were naturally wiped out when Lister found them after his million-year stasis.

Re:Grrrrrrr

[Anonymous Coward]

>No problem with them limiting content to the UK (and turning it into a revenue >service outside the UK, as they do with BBC North America) but WTF do they think
>they should be restricting content? We paid for it after all.

They're restricting it to people who paid for it, dumbass. How would YOU do it?

Remember children...

[turgid]

If you don't use DRM your computer is insecure and is at risk from viruses, trojans, hackers, paedophiles, terrorists and illegal copyright violators.

offcourse

[selderrr]

but an example given of the initial content is "nature programmes".

great ! More pr0n... Now who said the BBC is conservative ?

Re:offcourse

[rholliday]

When I read "nature programmes," the first thing I thought of was Coupling, Season 2, Episode 2, where he's talking about the BBC trying to embarass him with nudity. :)

Re:Grrrrrrr

[NickFitz]

most of the techs are very much for open source solutions, but are restricted due to internal politics

A few years ago I did some work at TV Centre with BBC News Online. I was told, "The servers run Windows. The person responsible for this mistake has since been removed." :-)

Re:A small clarification

[twilight30]

I'm pretty sure the TV license isn't illegal -- after 5 yrs in London I moved to Italy (where I am now) and here they have similar arrangements.

Better bimbos on Mediaset than ITV, though :)

Hehe

[FrostedWheat]

using Microsoft's DRM technology

Phew, for a second there I thought they where going to restrict the content.