US Viewers Using Proxies To Watch BBC Olympic Coverage

DavidGilbert99 writes "NBC is the sole broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympics in the U.S., having paid $1.1bn for the privilege. While NBC is providing live streaming through its website, you need to have a valid cable subscription in order to view the events. This has seen many tech savvy U.S. viewers turning to proxy servers to view the BBC's Olympic coverage, which doesn't need any sign-in to view — once your IP address looks like it is coming from the UK. One provider of VPN services has seen a ten-fold increase in new customers signing up for their services since last Friday."

Comments

Re:Expect networks to run to Congress

[cpu6502]

I watch BBC for free over my antenna but don't find it particularly "wonderful". It seems to have a pro-EU slant with reporters wanting the UK to adopt the Euro and demote itself to just a low-level state. (Like a U.S. state.)

As for why the content is not available for direct purchase, it's because the BBC can make more money selling the content to PBS, Syfy Channel, and so on. It all comes down to $$$.