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BBC Begins Open-Source Streaming Challenge

Posted by michael on from the fear-factor dept.

bus_stopper copies and pastes: "The BBC is quietly preparing a challenge to Microsoft and other companies jostling to reap revenues from video streams. It is developing code-decode (codec) software called Dirac in an open-source project aimed at providing a royalty-free way to distribute video. The sums at stake are potentially huge because the software industry insists on payment per viewer, per hour of encoded content. This contrasts with TV technology, for which viewers and broadcasters alike make a one-off royalties payment when they buy their equipment." We've mentioned this project before but this story goes into a bit more depth about the goals and motivations of the developers.

7 of 373 comments (clear)

  1. Good old Auntie! by jdtanner · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It just proves that you get a hell of a lot for your 125 GBP license fee!

    John

  2. Go BBC! by tdvaughan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Another reason why I'm glad to be a UK citizen - every time I start to wonder if it's really worth having a 'public service' broadcaster the BBC goes and does something like this. I'm hoping they'll be able to make a stand when someone tries HDTV regulations over here.

  3. The BBC by payndz · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Another good reason (among many) why the BBC should remain a non-commercial operation. Yes, paying the licence fee is an annoyance, but everyone gets a lot out of the Beeb, not just TV (BBC Online has all but replaced daily newspapers for me, and after having grown up with BBC radio, I find commercial radio unlistenable). And they're even bringing back Doctor Who!

    Sure, it has its problems, but I'd trust the BBC over any politician, especially ones who make threatening noises about its charter every time it does its job by being independent and embarrassing the government of the day...

    --
    You must think in Russian.
  4. In fact, I found a schematic for the network by bailey34 · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://support.bbc.co.uk/support/network/

  5. Re:From the article by Bill_Mische · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The BBC is the biggest media organisation in Britain and goes regularly goes one on one with governments including our own.

    If the "feds" were to ask the BBC not to release it we'd end up seeing one of your politicians getting an unexpected kicking in his next interview. A few years ago a BBC interviewer asked the Home Secretary (in charge of the police, prisons, immigration, "Homeland Security" etc.) the same question *14* times, when he wouldn't answer the question.

    --
    Boring Old Fart (40, married, 3 kids...er no...make that 49, married, 3 grown up kids...it's been a long time)
  6. Dirac homepage by flyhmstr · · Score: 5, Informative

    Dirac homepage and the Sourceforge pages

    --
    -- The Flying Hamster
  7. Re:The Future of Television by MikeDX · · Score: 5, Informative

    It annoys me that I have to pay even if i own a set, regardless of what i watch, even if I only use if to play my XBox.

    If you do indeed only use your TV in the UK to play DVDS or consoles, you can apply to be EXEMPT from a TV license as I did for 3 years. When you get the letter advising you have not got an up to date Television license, simply call the number on the bottom of the form, and advise them that you use your TV for console and DVD use and they will add you to the exemption list.

    Of course when they show up at your door or sit outside and see if your TV tuner is actively tuned to broadcasted television channels instead of playing the XBOX or watching DVDs then you can expect to get heavily fined and rightfully so.

    So if it bothers you that much about paying £125 for quite easily the best broadcaster in the world, I'm sure you will find my advice useful.