Mastodon
sungate.co.uk

sungate.co.uk

Ramblings about stuff

Video downloads from the BBC? Make sure they’re ‘open’!

BBC are proposing to make TV programmes available for download at some point in the near future. There is an open consultation process about this happening right now. I’ve made a formal comment asking them that they use open media and audio formats for their distribution, thus making it possible for all BBC licence-payers to view the content, not just those running Microsoft Windows. One of the questions in the consultation specifically asked about this issue (the text was something like “How important is it to ensure that access is possible from systems other than Microsoft?” or words to that effect), so it’s obviously something they are considering. If you live in the UK, please consider taking a few minutes to send them a response.

2 Responses to Video downloads from the BBC? Make sure they’re ‘open’!

  1. Hmm from the online service licence..
    ***********
    bbc.co.uk should be available to any internet-enabled device. It should
    comprise a wide range of propositions, including text and pictures and
    a range of live and on-demand audio-visual streams and
    downloadable applications and content. The service should be
    continuously available and free at the point of use. bbc.co.uk should
    include content from, and related to, many of the BBC’s UK public
    services; their own Service Licences define how their content may be
    distributed.
    ************

    they give with sentence one and give themselves a opt out on on last sentence.. I Wonder how this stands up legally??

    Permalink
  2. It’s difficult: the main problem is that the BBC have to be seen not be behaving in an “anti-competitive” manner; which is problematic, when they are effectively funded by the public. The public don’t want to see any artificial restrictions on what the BBC is “allowed” to do.

    Permalink

Comments are closed.