BBC iPlayer Allows Licence Payers to See TV Programs Online

[engine]

Registration opens July 27th

The iPlayer is a free service available to all UK licence fee payers that will allow viewers to download BBC TV and radio programmes via the internet and then watch and listen to them on their computers.

After downloading a programme from the BBC website on to a PC, viewers will have a window of 30 days in which to watch it via the iPlayer application before the file automatically deletes itself.

BBC iPlayer Allows Licence Payers to See TV Programs Online [telegraph.co.uk]

[Quadrille]

Good one!

this the BBC's Version [news.bbc.co.uk]

[lgn1]

Great. Here in Canada we are about a year behind on Coronation street. Now I can keep up with the Brits.

[encyclo]

Now I can keep up with the Brits.

No, you can't - at least not legally. It's for British TV licence-payers only. You and I are excluded.

From the linked article:

The 27 July version of the iPlayer will work only on PCs.

Or what they mean is that it will only run on Windows. It's a sad day when you see the BBC, who have always been at the forefront of open content, stooping this low and offering a MS-only DRM-laden proprietary solution, at a time when everyone else is trying to escape from the DRM straitjacket and the associated restrictions - restrictions which do nothing to stop pirates and everything to make genuine users feel like they're treated like criminals. Seriously, what on earth were they thinking when they came up with this?

Related: EC threat to BBC over downloads [news.bbc.co.uk] (on the BBC's own news site)

The BBC has been accused of forcing people to use Microsoft operating systems and has been threatened with a complaint to the European Commission.

[vincevincevince]

The big question is whether it will work if, like me, you have a TV Licence but are living abroad. Of course, question two is whether it will run under wine!

encyclo, I agree entirely about how disappointing it is that the BBC is clinging to M$-DRM systems instead of more open formats. After all, there's no difference between this and having a rack of VCRs to make sure you don't miss anything, other than the lower initial investment if you already have a PC.

[giggle]

I live in Thailand and use this site [tv-links.co.uk] to watch shows I can't readily view from here.

[Quadrille]

Or what they mean is that it will only run on Windows. It's a sad day when you see the BBC, who have always been at the forefront of open content, stooping this low and offering a MS-only DRM-laden proprietary solution, at a time when everyone else is trying to escape from the DRM straitjacket and the associated restrictions

Give 'em a break!

They have to start somewhere, and in the UK, 98% of HOME computers are PCs, (and 95%+ of all computers). The BBC has to justify the cash they spend or they abused in forums like this one. It's standard practice in the industry to start with the 'majority' compatibility, just like people start with IE before FF, O or S.

It's perfectly reasonable, unless you really believe that civil rights trump every normal value. You can buy a used PC for £30 (less than the TV licence). Lighten up and slum it for a few months ;)

[mole]

Sorry to sound grumpy about something which really is a step in the right direction.

But, I can only hope it's a vast improvement on BBC's video podcasting which has been around for a while. I tried it last year and found it so tedious and cumbersome I gave up on it and went back to using the VCR!

[appi2]

lgn1 wrong channel, corries on ITV, Eastenders is BBC. Why anyone would watch either is another question.

I'm currently registered for the BBC archive trial. The idea seems great, watch programmes from the past. Unfortunately though theres not that much available, you get a small selection of the content, maybe just one episode. Still it was nice to watch Andy Pandy, the wooden tops and an episode of tommorows world (wow personal video cameras - wheelbarrow not included).

Keep it up beeb.
ps
Give me more.
pps
Those linux users secretly do have a copy of windows;)

[TravelSite]

You need to wait 7 days before you can download it and watch it.

That's useless!

It means that if you watch a weekly series (e.g. Dr Who) you'll be forced to watch the next episode before you can catch up on the one you've missed!

And if I catch the tail end of something, or someone speaks about a programme the following day you'll need to wait a week before you can see it - I'll have forgotton about it by then!

[lgn1]

lgn1 wrong channel, corries on ITV, Eastenders is BBC

Well that will stop me dead in my tracks. DRM by geolocation would have been a joke to circumvent, but apparently im on the wrong channel. Rats!

[engine]

I think it's a great move, although I don't know how good/bad or worthwhile it'll be until I see it.

At the moment, so many of these online TV projects are in beta, and even then, currently, I have to be in front of my PC to see the stuff.

I agree about the BBC podcasts - it's damn hard work and I simply don't bother.

Much easier to go to my TV and watch the stuff being broadcast, or record it on the PVR to watch when convenient.

Oh yes, DRM stops me from paying for and downloading music on my desktop PC because I originally registered on my laptop. The system stinks.

But, yes, I will register for the BBC iPlayer and give it a try.