Slashdot Mirror
BBC Views Content Piracy As Wake-Up Call
Peregr1n writes "The BBC is reporting that they view the piracy of a Doctor Who episode before its broadcast date earlier this year as a 'wake-up call about the demand for new technology', in a refreshing change of opinion from most media/broadcasting corporations, who would damn this piracy without hesitation. They are forming plans to simulcast the television channels BBC1 and BBC2 on the web, as well as allowing users (only in the UK to start with, unfortunately) access to shows for a week after the broadcast date. It is worth noting that they are already trying out a system where they make shows available on the web before television broadcast, with The Mighty Boosh. Other BBC3 comedies are due to follow suit and become available on the internet first." Relatedly, shadowlight1 writes "K9, Doctor Who's lovable robotic dog, is returning to the new series with a cameo in season 2."
From the US, I wouldn't hesitate to pay, either on a per-view basis or monthly subscription. Truly. I would love to have regular, legal access to BBC News and Dramas, and would pay to do so.
During the bombings of 7/7, I gave up trying to get decent live coverage from any of my cable news channels in the first 5 hours of the event. I went directly to BBC on the web, and was able to watch the whole thing live, a streamed version of BBC1. Perfect.
Interestingly, I also managed to tap into a BBC multicast test earlier this year, apparently left over from the Olympics. And what did I manage to see LIVE that day? The DOCTOR WHO broadcast of "Dalek"!
I'd still like to know who I should send my $10 to for *that* event! I hope this news is an indication of better days ahead for those outside of the UK. Just imagine: what if fees from viewers in other countries would make the UK TV fee obsolete!?!
I'd be willing to pay the same TV license fee that everyone in the UK pays. Only seems fair.
I want to watch Doctor Who, and right now the only way I can do it is over the internet.
Got Apathy?
All content from Dutch public channels have been freely available for all at http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/ (missed broadcast) since the last two years or so. Everything is available the day after the broadcast and news are bulletins even sooner available.
It's not the cable and satellite providers who are responsible for that, it's the programming providers who force the cable and satellite providers to get X number of channels in order to get things like ESPN.
FC Closer
Actually, if you don't watch any broadcasts (only DVD and so on) you don't need a licence: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/gethelp/faqs.jsp?ques tion=1#link1
Don't exaggerate. It's a licence fee per household. And radios have not require a licence for a gazillion years. Less than £10 per month...for stuff you actually might want to watch with no adverts. It's worth it just for the CBeebies channel alone!
I use Replay Radio for "podcasting" stuff like this. I record a slew of radio shows to MP3 every Friday night, and play them throughout the week. Been working like a charm for 6 months. BBC7 is full of gems!
Radio 4 being, as far as I know, the only UK station that broadcasts on Long Wave these days (as well as FM)
Interestingly the long wave is slightly different to the FM version (The long wave version regularly has more shipping forcasts) and for major, reletively unplanned events (such as the replacement of the pope) one version gives in depth coverage, the other regular programming
Global media powerhouse? The beeb has been one of these since its creation. More than one channel, meaningful and educational content, no commercial sponsorship in the form of ads at least, and the ability for you to tune into radio, internet and DVD content wherever you are in the world? What the hell are you smoking, the BBC is one of the biggest players in the world.
Check out the content, all available freely to licence payers and the rest of the world via the radio, internet etc.
AFAIK Upstairs Downstairs was ITV.
it's just that using a Times article to justify a paranoia that the BBC is going to get a licence fee from PC users is just absurd
:)
OK, I'll use a BBC article then, and our old friend The Register.
Anyway, Murdoch's not all bad, because he owns Fox, and Fox make The Simpsons, and The Simpsons was the *only* reason I used to watch the BBC anyway
As good Slashdot and Digg readers (http://www.digg.com/apple/iPod_Video..._Details_
If you'd like to see the NewWHO series available for digital distribution through iTunes (and for iPod Video and iPod Photo/Color models), then let Apple know by writing to them and asking that they actively pursue acquiring digital distribution rights here in the U.S. Such a distribution agreement would create buzz not only for the allegedly upcoming iPod Video unit but also buzz for the new series here in America.
Write to Apple here:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html
If you'd like TiVo to take a look at a digital distribution agreement for broadband equipped TiVos, write to TiVo here:
http://research.tivo.com/suggestions/2web519.htm
I'm including TiVo as an option since it is well known that TiVo wants to actively pursue digital downloads for their machines and they are currently testing downloads of IFC Channel original content (Greg the Bunny, etc.) through their current beta tests.
"Right now, somewhere in this world, Scott Baio is plowing a woman he doesn't love," - Peter Griffin, *Family Guy*
I'll adress both those articles, the BBC one is 3 year old, and to quote it says " People who watch BBC television through a computer could be forced to buy a TV licence" which I don't think is unacceptable, besides IIRC it's more or less the status quo anyway, TV cards require a TV licence. The register article is much more relivant, however it suggests that a form of broadcasting tax (and notes the difficulties of this) is imposed *instead* of the licence fee, not additional to it, if that were to happen a form of top-slicing would occor where different broadcasters would compete for public money. No need fot the tin-foil hat just yet. Your money is safe until at least 2017 according to your own article.
If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
Forgot a couple of links:
t /whatis.htm
Screengrab from the cable box user interface : http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds22574.html
Telewest info on Teleport : http://www.telewest.co.uk/html/television/telepor