BBC Opens TV Archive to Remixers

megla writes "The BBC has opened its Creative Archive to the public, allowing users to be VJs and remix BBC content. The BBC's "current music" radio station, Radio 1, is running a competition in conjunction with the release. Unfortunately, the license the content is released under requires that you are a UK resident to use it." For British residents, however, this is well worth the television license.

Comments

The Beeb

[FyRE666]

You know, I never used to be a big fan of the BBC and its licence for UK viewers. However, the great content it's made available via its website, complete lack of advertisements and new shows (recently) have really changed my view. The news service is largely unbiased, far less biased than any US channel/website I've visited. Also, since it's non-commercial it allows them to experiment more, and include news articles and pieces that aren't totally focussed on bringing in page hits.

I did subscribe to Sky a while back, but dropped it after finding the 5 minute ad breaks every 15 minutes extremely annoying (the channels all seem to display adverts at the same time too, to stop channel hopping I guess), and constant repeats. Sky make a huge deal out of any show they're airing for the first time, instead of the 5001st - and pepper them with even more adverts.

So basically, the short version of this comment is: "Fuck Sky, Go Beeb".

Re:The Beeb

[sparks]

Having moved from the UK to Canada a few years back, let me just say that I yearn with nostalgic longing for the time when I could watch TV with five-minute ad breaks only every fifteen minutes.

Re:The Beeb

[pdhenry]

As I understand the UK licensing (licencing) law, you would not have to pay a licence fee if you do not have a device capable of receiving or recording TV programming. If you have a DVD player with no recording capability and a monitor without a tuner you may be exempt from licencing requirements.
See http://www.kevinboone.com/tv_licence.html for a but more information.
Also see http://www.tvlicensing.biz/info_on_tvlicensing/
IANAL.

Re:The Beeb

[FyRE666]

Sure I'm listening to their radio station, and watching their website - but so are thousands of other people in foreign countries (with things like the BBC World Service) who don't have to pay this tax.

So you're doing your own small part to make something valuable available to people all over the Earth - including third World countries who couldn't hope to run a news service of that standard. What's wrong with that?

Re:The Beeb

[dJCL]

How much is this license?

I'd be willing to pay money to the BBC for access to this and othe r content.

Heck, I'd be willing to pay a TV tax of some reasonable pittance just to replace our CBC up here with a much expanded and comercial reduced BBC Canada.

It's not like that's where CBC is getting it's news from anyway due to the strike...

JC

Re:The Beeb

[Anonymous Coward]

including third World countries who couldn't hope to run a news service of that standard.

Like the US, for example?

Re:The Beeb

[TheoGB]

Yes the post realises this: They lived in the UK. Their point was in reference to the ad breaks on UK commercial television (as raised by the parent poster's comments on Sky).

Hope that made sense as I can't remember people's names!

Re:The Beeb

[isorox]

Despite this I have to pay the mandatory BBC-tax every year, just because I own a television.

No you dont. Detune your TV, unplug your aeriel, and you dont need to pay. You do need to pay if your watch Corronation Street.

Sure I'm listening to their radio station, and watching their website

You don't need a TV license for either of those things.

with things like the BBC World Service) who don't have to pay this tax.

The World Service (radio) is funded by the foreign office, not the TV license. World TV is funded by advertisers and is not available in the UK (theoretically).

Re:The Beeb

[Midnight Thunder]

Hey, I don't mind if they stay on strike at the moment since at least we are getting BBC news instead. Much more international content, and not just that which is rating oriented.

We really need the CBC/Radio Canada to be sorted out - this needs to be a channel for the citizens, not for the advertisers.

UK residents only? Who cares.

[planetoid]

Yeah, like they can stop me from remixing the Dr. Who theme song with dogs barking.

Re:UK residents only? Who cares.

[ScrewMaster]

Bark-bark bark, bark-bark bark, bark-bark bark, BARK BARK BARK
Bark-bark bark, bark-bark bark, bark-bark bark, BARK BARK BARK

Damn, boy. I think you got a winner here.

Re:Screw the license restriction

[jleq]

You seem to lack a fundamental understanding of copyright law, or law in general. Just because you believe that you have a right to do something doesn't mean you have said right, especially if the law explicitly states that you do NOT. There is a certain amount of fair-use that applies to broadcasted content, but it is by no means public domain.

Dont like that? Then dont broadcast it.

I believe that all of the media corporations (and their lawyers) would strongly disagree with that statement. The laws at the moment also contradict you.

definitely not a free-as-in-speech license either

[planetoid]

4. No Endorsement and No derogatory use The Creative Archive content is provided to allow you to get creative with content, not for campaigning, soapboxing or to defame others! So don't use it to promote political, charitable, or other campaigning purposes and remember to treat others and their work in the way that you'd expect them to treat you and your work...with respect!

Re:Screw the license restriction

[GrahamCox]

I could care less about any 'restrictions

How much less could you care? We need to know!

Bean there done that...

[viva_fourier]

Finally, now those British Beaniacs can release their 8-year-in-the-making Mr. Bean tributes remixed to include *words*.

Re:From the agreement.

[Anonymous Coward]

I was just looking at the photo on your web site. Is that your real forehead, or did you have some sort of extension fitted?

I can tell that you're an American, because you've A) "found Jesus" and can't shut the fuck up about it, B) you're hideously foul, fat, stupid and ugly and yet can't stop drawing attention to yourself and C) you've only got one joke (British teeth) and you can't even make it sound funny.

You're from the bible belt - statistically you're far more likely to have dental issues than any British citizen. Is there a reason why you don't open your mouth in that foul photograph of yourself you so foolishly make available to the general public?

Re:licence - it's not a joke

[joebutton]

> So the fact that a van is in the area is not as
> much of a giveaway as it once was

Giveaway? Surely the primary point of the vans is to convey the impression that you're likely to get caught watching TV without a licence.

> they assume that everyone has a TV set, so you
> have to prove you DON'T have one in order for
> them to leave you alone.

They have to prove that you DO have one in order for them to prosecute you. They will tend to send intimidating letters though.

> Also, they have automatic right of entry to your
> home without a warrant

No they don't.

> They send you very strongly worded authoritarian
> and intimidating letters to make you pay,
> especially if you have no record of payment
> because you don't have a TV set

True, and quite irritating.