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BBC Opens TV Archive to Remixers

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the go-nuts dept.

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.

9 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. The Beeb by FyRE666 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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".

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    Code, Hardware, stuff like that.
    1. Re:The Beeb by sparks · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

    2. Re:The Beeb by pdhenry · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

    3. Re:The Beeb by FyRE666 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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?

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      Code, Hardware, stuff like that.
  2. UK residents only? Who cares. by planetoid · · Score: 5, Funny

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

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  3. Re:UK residents only? Who cares. by ScrewMaster · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

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  4. Re:Screw the license restriction by jleq · · Score: 4, Insightful
    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.
  5. definitely not a free-as-in-speech license either by planetoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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!

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  6. Re:From the agreement. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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?