BBC Adds Shows to iTunes

[camsoft]

Can I just say that the BBC iTunes programmes are supplied by BBC Worldwide not the BBC.

BBC Worldwide is a commercial business, an arm of the BBC Corporation.
All DVD, Videos, CD's, Magazine, iTunes Downloads etc. and distributed by BBC Worldwide.

The license fee funds the BBC Corporation so that it can develop programmes, this is it main source of income. All other (commercial) channels are funded by adverts. The BBC has no advert breaks.

The BBC is well worth the license fee in my opinion, some of the shows the BBC produce are some of the best programmes on telly, included Planet Earth, BBC News, Top Gear etc.

 

[MacBiscuit]

To those complaining about the TV licence: Suppose the programmes weren't on iTunes. How would you get them if you want to watch them after broadcast? Well, 1) view on BBC's website (for a limited time) or 2) buy them on DVD.

Or 3) record them using HDD/DVD recorder, or even a VCR - remember, like we've been doing since the eighties....

 

[Mr Ikasu]

While I would of course love to have free shows on a rental scheme through iTunes. Just think of the uproar this would cause in the anti-Apple community.

I'm not sure the trust would be too happy with the BBC providing so much free content on a proprietary system which isn't even theirs. It would shift so many Apple TVs and profit for Apple that I don't think the BBC would be able to do it from their impartiality bit.

I'm not saying I don't want it to happen but I'm just not sure whether it ever will.

 

[Event Horizon]

PARTIALLY.

On a PC you can download a better quality file, and have several days to watch it. On a Mac, it's basically you-tube for BBC - unreliable, current connection reliant.

totally agree - we've paid for this content and it's discrimination to make us pay for downloads when PC users don't have to - the BBC are dragging their feet and it's patently unfair. they've already been warned by Parliament about this

hell they use Macs to make the shows but we can't use them to watch them the way we should be able to - you unpick that one

 

[DAC47]

i can't believe how many people are getting confused by this

iplayer (flash based catch up paid for out of the licence fee)

and itunes (BBC worldwide product, no time limit, paid for download, analogues to retail DVD)

Were Mac users were supposed to be the media savvy ones aren't we?

 

[ATG]

Uh oh. £1.89? Not going to be popular. I foresee an outcry.

On a Mac, it's basically you-tube for BBC - unreliable, current connection reliant.

Indeed. Not to mention that it often crashes my BeBox.

 

[brucebrendon]

iTV - i(dont)BBC

maybe BBC are narked that Apple were gonna call the TV iTV being one of their UK competitors.

no i dont really think so, but sticking the generic 'i' branding on on something that wont iApple is 'i'ronically rubbing the face in 'i't somewhat.

all painful puns intended

 

[nickf]

the license fee is worth it for radio 4 (and r3 if you're a music snob - i'm not but i appreciate the way it's there for when i get old and miserable. r5 is alright as well if you can stand the jingle every ten minutes...).

Absolutely! R4 really is a national treasure. It's the only station I listen to (and no telly in the house either,so go figure )

 

[Dunk the Lunk]

totally agree - we've paid for this content and it's discrimination to make us pay for downloads when PC users don't have to - the BBC are dragging their feet and it's patently unfair. they've already been warned by Parliament about this

hell they use Macs to make the shows but we can't use them to watch them the way we should be able to - you unpick that one

You haven't 'paid for this content'.

Unless you've paid for it on DVD etc.

If you mean you've paid for a TV licence that means you've paid to watch live TV.

Windows users have to pay for BBC programmes not shown in the last 7 days just like mac users.

 

[DAC47]

Uh oh. £1.89? Not going to be popular. I foresee an outcry.

its a bit much fore a half hour comedy but it's not to bad for a full 60 minutes show like Spooks or Life on Mars. especially when you think US shows like Lost are that price and only 42 minutes long

 

[Dunk the Lunk]

i can't believe how many people are getting confused by this

iplayer (flash based catch up paid for out of the licence fee)

and itunes (BBC worldwide product, no time limit, paid for download, analogues to retail DVD)

Were Mac users were supposed to be the media savvy ones aren't we?

Here here.
I can't believe the idiots out there who are writing this confused rubbish

 

[DAC47]

totally agree - we've paid for this content and it's discrimination to make us pay for downloads when PC users don't have to - the BBC are dragging their feet and it's patently unfair. they've already been warned by Parliament about this

hell they use Macs to make the shows but we can't use them to watch them the way we should be able to - you unpick that one

The BBC have said this service will be on Macs by the end of the year, its not like they can get an off the shelf solution for Macs like they can with PC's

the download version of the iplayer isn't very popular anyway, the new flash version has been much more successful

look a it this way PC users have to use Windows so it all balances out

 

[needthephone]

As someone who once lived in the UK I can also agree that the beeb makes excellent programmes. I too would take the worst of the BBC for what I have now on free to air in Australia. Sorry but its terrible. We have cable and thankfully can get a lot of UK shows.

SBS (free to air ) does show Top Gear though.

Why can't this be available outside the UK though????-heres hoping. If they do I'll get an apple TV I think

 

[firestarter]

The BBC have said this service will be on Macs by the end of the year, its not like they can get an off the shelf solution for Macs like they can with PC's

It looks like Apple HAS now implemented an off the shelf solution for this. Apples DRM now supports content which times out after 30 days, and which deletes itself 24 hours after it's first played (movie rentals). If the BBC can generate quicktime movies set to a 7 day expity, then they're all set.

 

[Apple Architect]

The uses of programme vs program:

1. I'm going to watch a TV programme.
2. I'm going to use a software program.
3. I'm going to read the course programme.

Don't forget the classic...

I'm going to program the video to record the programme about the university programme.

 

[johngordon]

I can watch the for free with the BBC iPlayer? I think this is aimed at non UK users.

Pretty much - I think most people missed that this is a deal with BBC Worldwide, so effectively akin to the provision of BBC content abroad.

Nothing to do with the licence fee really, except that BBWW is the commercial arm of the BBC, and profits it makes from something like this is ploughed back into the BBC pot in the same way that revenue from DVD sales, programme sales to the US market etc is.

Shame they're not using it as a stop gap to getting a download version of the iPlayer working on Macs, but I guess that would only complicate things further.

As far as I know, the BBC are hoping to make use of Adobe Air to implement the Mac download version of the iPlayer.

Although the idea of getting BBC content at cost after broadcast, unfortunately it's not that simple.

People will argue that 'they've already paid for it' so should be able to (at cost at least), but unfortunately the point is that they haven't paid for it at all.

Rights are very complex - so when the BBC makes or commissions a programme, that only pays for the rights to show that programme in a particular timeframe.

If they had to pay to provide that content to people permanently, then the associated rights costs would be many times than those the BBC currently pay.

it's explained much better in this blog - quite far down, under 'Hey! We've paid for this stuff!

Blog about the iPlayer and DRM

 

[FleurDuMal]

As for the whole license fee debate in general - I can see how you'd get annoyed by it if you never watch bbc things - but the snobish part of me wants to say why AREN'T you using the bbc - great news, great programmes - are you per chance the type who watches big brother and sky all the time and think thats quality entertainment? But thats just my snobish half

Have you watched BBC News recently?!

 

[arkitect]

Have you watched BBC News recently?!

Too true…
Only difference between BBC and Sky is the size of the banners crawling across the screen "Breaking News! Breaking News! Breaking News!…"

It seems people cling to fond memories of a BBC that (perhaps) once was but has now succumbed to market forces…

 

[Roba]

A lot of media streaming stuff does not work on Macs without Bootcamp. This problem has arisen because of Digital Rights Management issues. Maybe Apple are somewhat to blame in this as well. If Windows player for MacOSX was still in production this problem would not exist.

The best solution for Mac users is just to buy Bootcamp or update their computer to an Intel Mac one that is what i did as i wanted to use Channel 4's E4 service and watch other stuff that was Windows only as well. This is the thing that puts me of from buying a 12 inch Powerbook because i know i will be limited when it comes to watching stuff like this.

I don't know how the BBC are going to get round this DRM problem.

 

[weckart]

The licence (whether colour or black and white) is free if you are 75 or over, and half-price if you are registered blind.

Say what? --)))

Apparently, the mere fact that you are blind means you must live on your own and never have friends or family around. How about just regarding this as a discount extended to any family with a member registered blind? All you need to do is register the relevant TVs in that family member's name.

Is that all you lot are bloody whining about, with the terrible license fee? If you want the BBC (America) in the states, here's how it goes:...........So, figure $80/month for the Beeb plus lots of drivel, all filled with commercials. $960 per year. Four times your terrible "license fee!" And in my case, I want to see the Formula 1 races. For that I need to add a "sports Package" to get Speed TV and a lot of other stuff I don't want. That's another $84/year.

Thanks for the much needed reality check, but it won't stop people complaining about the licence fee. People seem to forget that there is only so much advertising to go around, as the print media can attest. If the BBC were required to compete in that space, other commerical stations would struggle to raise enough revenue to maintain the quality of their current output. Two things are likely to happen: Either the revenue per minute of advertising plummets and you get more adverts per hour of programming, or the stations go for even cheaper programming ("reality" programmes and phone-in quizzes). Either way, it is hard to see how the viewer benefits.

 

[The Phazer]

It looks like Apple HAS now implemented an off the shelf solution for this. Apples DRM now supports content which times out after 30 days, and which deletes itself 24 hours after it's first played (movie rentals). If the BBC can generate quicktime movies set to a 7 day expity, then they're all set.

It's not off the shelf - only Apple can generate the Fairplay DRM, and they don't licence the software used to create it out.

So Apple will have to either start licencing it before the BBC can use it (unlikely) or do it for the BBC. Normally they're only willing to do this if there's some money in it, which is why they'll do it for WW's paid downloads but arranging free rentals is likely to be much more problematic for the BBC.

Phazer

 

[ictiosapiens]

so the next time i'm in hmv I can just get a copy of life on mars on DVD and walk out the store without paying as I've already paid for it right?

iTunes purchase is same as DVD purchase you are buying the content to own. The licience fee pays for you to access the tv channel and watch it while its on its almost as if it was a rental. When it's gone you no longer have it.

Only part of the BBC funding comes from tv licence the rest comes from selling their show to other channels and DVD sales. iTunes is just an extension of the DVD sales nothing more. Sure DVD give you more extras but iTunes videos will be available quicker.

Hopefully apple and BBC can work out a catch up tv service based on the iTunes rental model making the shows only available for 7 days for free?

Well, try going to CEX or Ebay and sell those itunes shows... oh wait, you can't...

 

[Dunk the Lunk]

Well, try going to CEX or Ebay and sell those itunes shows... oh wait, you can't...

No you can't. But you can't (legally) transfer your DVD's to another device either, but you can with the iTunes programmes so it's swings and roundabouts.

 

[capoeirista]

I got rid of my TV (and stopped forking out for the license) because most of what is available on the BBC isn't as brilliant as it's reputation suggests. There are exceptions (BOOSH!!!!, Life on Earth, Top Gear, and a few others) but a lot of it is tosh. Cheaply made reality programmes, and daytime filler, in fact, very much like it's commercial rivals. If I need to watch something I'll catch it on the iPlayer. I doubt I'll be using this iTunes service, as if there's something I really want to keep (Mighty Boosh/Alan Partridge box set for example) I'll buy it on DVD.

Oh and as mentioned above BBC Radio4 ftw (and BBC 6music of course).

 

[TheNightPhoenix]

Or 3) record them using HDD/DVD recorder, or even a VCR - remember, like we've been doing since the eighties....

He was talking about people who decided they wanted to watch the programme after the programme had been broadcast. Without a usable time machine my DVD recorder can't record something after it has been broadcast.