3 ms·

They don't have to, but they want to. They could say they will not accept content that requires DRM, just like GOG does. BBC is state funded so it should be ea

by Paul_S 11y ago

They don't have to, but they want to. They could say they will not accept content that requires DRM, just like GOG does. BBC is state funded so it should be easier for it (easier than for a for profit company like GOG) to not be evil.

pidg 11y ago
Having actually spoken to some of the people who work on this stuff at the BBC, they don't want to. They want to make as much quality television accessible to as many people as possible. In fact, internal systems already exist for accessing any BBC programme from the last (n) years. There's also a system for schools and universities that gives you access to the last year or so of programming. It's pressures from external production companies that prevent these from being rolled out to the public. However, there will always be rights issues until the state has complete ownership over all TV production - which is never going to happen. (Also - what's 'evil' about content creators wanting to protect their intellectual property and income?)
- exodust 11y ago
  Content creators care about publishing schedules and expiry dates - how long the content is available on iPlayer. That's their primary concern. What exactly is DRM protecting them against? It's not geo-blocking, that's done on the server. There's no "download button" that suddenly appears on iPlayer if the content isn't encrypted. So please remind me what protective benefits DRM brings the rights holders and content creators? Keep in mind, it's trivial to screen capture video on any half-decent computer. Anyone "determined" enough simply needs screen capture software and then hit record.
jamespo 11y ago
Actually I'm surprised they don't require some sort of login for iplayer rather than just limiting by Geo-IP, allowing VPN-using non-license-fee-payers to get the content.
- noarchy 11y ago
  There are plenty of people who watch TV in the UK without paying the license fee, to say nothing of the Internet. I'd bet that the percentage of non-license payers who use iPlayer is higher, due to cord-cutting.
- rikkus 11y ago
  They would also get the option to charge non UK residents for access. There must be good reason they don't do this but it would certainly mean UK residents could access content while abroad without having to pretend they were at home and stop non UK residents 'cheating'. Would love to hear from the BBC if this is being considered.
  - JupiterMoon 11y ago
    Because if they did it would contribute the the view that they are not much more than yet another commercial TV station...
Doctor_Fegg 11y ago
The BBC is not state-funded. The BBC is funded by the licence fee, which is not compulsory. If you don't have a TV and don't watch live broadcasts online, you don't have to pay it. (I don't.)

by Paul_S 11y ago

pidg 11y ago

Having actually spoken to some of the people who work on this stuff at the BBC, they don't want to. They want to make as much quality television accessible to as many people as possible. In fact, internal systems already exist for accessing any BBC programme from the last (n) years. There's also a system for schools and universities that gives you access to the last year or so of programming. It's pressures from external production companies that prevent these from being rolled out to the public. However, there will always be rights issues until the state has complete ownership over all TV production - which is never going to happen. (Also - what's 'evil' about content creators wanting to protect their intellectual property and income?)

exodust 11y ago
Content creators care about publishing schedules and expiry dates - how long the content is available on iPlayer. That's their primary concern. What exactly is DRM protecting them against? It's not geo-blocking, that's done on the server. There's no "download button" that suddenly appears on iPlayer if the content isn't encrypted. So please remind me what protective benefits DRM brings the rights holders and content creators? Keep in mind, it's trivial to screen capture video on any half-decent computer. Anyone "determined" enough simply needs screen capture software and then hit record.

jamespo 11y ago

Actually I'm surprised they don't require some sort of login for iplayer rather than just limiting by Geo-IP, allowing VPN-using non-license-fee-payers to get the content.

noarchy 11y ago
There are plenty of people who watch TV in the UK without paying the license fee, to say nothing of the Internet. I'd bet that the percentage of non-license payers who use iPlayer is higher, due to cord-cutting.
rikkus 11y ago
They would also get the option to charge non UK residents for access. There must be good reason they don't do this but it would certainly mean UK residents could access content while abroad without having to pretend they were at home and stop non UK residents 'cheating'. Would love to hear from the BBC if this is being considered.
- JupiterMoon 11y ago
  Because if they did it would contribute the the view that they are not much more than yet another commercial TV station...

Doctor_Fegg 11y ago

The BBC is not state-funded. The BBC is funded by the licence fee, which is not compulsory. If you don't have a TV and don't watch live broadcasts online, you don't have to pay it. (I don't.)