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Correct. TV licenses apply to TV content. We don't have radio licenses any more. You don't need a TV license to listen to radio. > I guess they just extended
by afandian 8y ago
Correct. TV licenses apply to TV content.
We don't have radio licenses any more. You don't need a TV license to listen to radio.
> I guess they just extended the system to all content for simplicity.
The 'iPlayer' app (web and native) is entirely different to the 'iPlayer Radio' and 'Sounds' apps. It's not simple to add auth to apps totally unrelated to TV.
- chrisseaton 8y agoI meant maybe the backend is the same? They probably have one content delivery system.
- afandian 8y agoTechnology serves policy. You don't build anything without a reason. If they said "our technology platform is cheaper if we track every user's activity and prevent anyone from accessing it without authentication" then at least that would be honest. I think it would raise some very legitimate questions, though. FWIW I don't think this is the case. You can access BBC Sounds fine from other parts of the world, just with ads inserted. If they can geolocate non-UK listeners to substitute auth for ads, they can geolocate UK listeners without auth or ads.
- tombrossman 8y agoFor the avoidance of doubt, they do not automatically match up TV licences to your BBC iPlayer account. When you go to the website to watch a video, you are redirected to the login page. From there, you are asked whether you have a TV licence, and only then does the video start. I can only assume the forced login is to enable user tracking? I don't mind paying the TV license fee as the content is excellent, but I browse the website and download what I want to watch with youdube-dl, because I categorically reject their creepy tracking, which they refuse to properly explain. If youtube-dl stops working, I'll keep paying the licence to support the programming, but will look for torrents of the shows to download instead.