4 ms·

Being in the United States, I get the same treatment when I want to watch bbc programs (blocked for not being in the UK). It's understandable, since they're sup

Being in the United States, I get the same treatment when I want to watch bbc programs (blocked for not being in the UK). It's understandable, since they're supported by taxpayer money, but it would be nice if there was a way to pay for it if you don't live within the country. I wish both PBS and the bbc would jump into the 21st century and give those outside of each respective country an option to purchase a subscription. There's little else I really care to watch on TV than what those two produce.

happycube 13y ago
Word is BBC wanted to offer streaming here, but the cable companies would drop BBC America en mass if they did.
seszett 13y ago
You're not blocked for not being in the UK, you are blocked for being in the US. And the UK is blocked too (well, it depends on which BBC channel you are talking about).
- yareally 13y ago
  > And the UK is blocked too (well, it depends on which BBC channel you are talking about) Odd, I thought the entire UK was granted access, so long as they paid their "television tax" or whatever they call it now. How/Why does such additional blocking happen if that is not the case? Just curious.
  - polymatter 13y ago
    The BBC can not show ads to the UK public. This is part of the BBC charter and is there to ensure the BBC remains impartial. The idea is that since the BBC is funded by the licence fee (the TV tax), it is free of commercial concerns. This means that the BBC doesn't have to focus on chasing viewing numbers with lowest common denominator programming and so it can produce quality programming. Also the BBC is never beholden to any large investor or customer, so can be trusted as a news source. BBC Worldwide is a subsidiary company of the BBC. It makes money from selling broadcasting rights, ads to other countries. This is fine because the UK public never sees those ads. Unfortunately, not being allowed to show ads to the UK public means they block access to all BBC Worldwide programs from within the UK. Some of those programs are entire new series eg (http://www.bbcamerica.com/orphan-black/ http://www.bbcamerica.com/orphan-black/) which the UK public has no right to be able to view. If you attempt to access the totally free BBC Worldwide content within the UK you are presented the following: "We're sorry but this site is not accessible from the UK as it is part of our international service and is not funded by the license fee. It is run commercially by BBC Worldwide, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BBC, the profits made from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes. You can find out more about BBC Worldwide and its digital activities at www.bbcworldwide.com." Its totally stupid. Everyone knows its stupid. But since almost everyone agrees the BBC is (surprisingly) good on the whole, any change to it is resisted on impulse.

happycube 13y ago

Word is BBC wanted to offer streaming here, but the cable companies would drop BBC America en mass if they did.

seszett 13y ago

You're not blocked for not being in the UK, you are blocked for being in the US. And the UK is blocked too (well, it depends on which BBC channel you are talking about).

yareally 13y ago
> And the UK is blocked too (well, it depends on which BBC channel you are talking about) Odd, I thought the entire UK was granted access, so long as they paid their "television tax" or whatever they call it now. How/Why does such additional blocking happen if that is not the case? Just curious.
- polymatter 13y ago
  The BBC can not show ads to the UK public. This is part of the BBC charter and is there to ensure the BBC remains impartial. The idea is that since the BBC is funded by the licence fee (the TV tax), it is free of commercial concerns. This means that the BBC doesn't have to focus on chasing viewing numbers with lowest common denominator programming and so it can produce quality programming. Also the BBC is never beholden to any large investor or customer, so can be trusted as a news source. BBC Worldwide is a subsidiary company of the BBC. It makes money from selling broadcasting rights, ads to other countries. This is fine because the UK public never sees those ads. Unfortunately, not being allowed to show ads to the UK public means they block access to all BBC Worldwide programs from within the UK. Some of those programs are entire new series eg (http://www.bbcamerica.com/orphan-black/ http://www.bbcamerica.com/orphan-black/) which the UK public has no right to be able to view. If you attempt to access the totally free BBC Worldwide content within the UK you are presented the following: "We're sorry but this site is not accessible from the UK as it is part of our international service and is not funded by the license fee. It is run commercially by BBC Worldwide, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BBC, the profits made from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes. You can find out more about BBC Worldwide and its digital activities at www.bbcworldwide.com." Its totally stupid. Everyone knows its stupid. But since almost everyone agrees the BBC is (surprisingly) good on the whole, any change to it is resisted on impulse.