Note I am not arguing this to be true today, but what you are saying is not mutually exclusive to using mandatory logins more nefariously in future. Also, one d

Note I am not arguing this to be true today, but what you are saying is not mutually exclusive to using mandatory logins more nefariously in future. Also, one does not need to force accounts for this - users can decide if they want a login and viewing history - YouTube arguably does this already today. The compulsory part is the real issue, not the benefits it brings. I’ve sadly seen many many features like this (just watch the industry - who hasn’t?) that are sold under one seemingly positive guise only to be used for another negative one later. Regardless of public statements on the matter today, I’m really not sure the BBC will resist the temptation longer term to use iPlayer logins as a licence fee enforcement tool among other things, it’s too easy to spin positively as a business decision. Much of my own unease in all of this is due to the BBC’s odd nature as a kind of hybrid public/private entity. Perhaps the time has come to just let the BBC be a private company and compete directly with Netflix et al, at which point I would care much less about how access is provided. If it is to be a public broadcaster though, I think one of its primary duties should be to be as open as is practical.