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BBC to Offer Video Downloads for Mac. Apple TV Considered.

ArcaneDevice said:
No you don't need a licence. If you only use the iPlayer it doesn't count unless they start streaming live broadcasts of the BBC networks. You can write and tell them that you don't have any television receiving equipment and they will send someone round to check it out.

"Therefore, if you are using your PC or laptop solely to watch TV programmes from the BBC iPlayer service in its current form, you do not need to be covered by a TV Licence."
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They stream some programmes live - Match of the Day for definite as you can only watch this on iPlayer whilst it is being shown live on TV.

I never understand why people have a problem with paying the license fee. Go to another country, the US being a good example, watch their TV networks and then you'll never complain again.

One point with the TV license is that it doesn't give you the right to own and watch BBC programmes in perpetuity - just to watch them when they are broadcast (keeping a recording for a long time isn't technically legit). This is why there is the 7 day limit on watching programmes through iPlayer and why you have to pay normal prices for DVDs.

I reckon Apple and the BBC will be able to work out some kind of deal. Apple providing BBC content through iTunes to UK residents for free and selling it in other countries (at least the programming the BBC can sell).

Apple would be stupid not to work something out as it will sell Apple TV's and iPod's by the case. Though no doubt the other UK networks will complain.
 
babyj said:
Though no doubt the other UK networks will complain.
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Or they could just offer their stuff on iTunes too! I'm still peeved that Channel 4's (non-Brit's, that's the only British non-BBC channel that's actually innovative) 4OD service is totally Mac-unfriendly.

Of course non-BBC stuff would have to be paid for by the end user, or at least (but please, no!) supported by adverts.

SL
 
Snap!

Neutral Gamer said:
Am I the only one who uses Virgin Media (formally ntl) on this site? We've been getting free on demand access to the last seven days of TV for ages now including the BBC and Channel 4 (More4, E4) channels as well as Living, Bravo and Virgin 1.

Why does no one ever mention that? It's far better quality and quicker than the BBC iPlayer and most importantly I can watch it on my large TV rather than having to watch it on my computer. Plus there's loads of other free programmes and entire series you can watch as well as payable shows and movies. The way the media are going about, you'd swear the BBC and Apple TV have (or will) somehow revolutionise the on demand TV market .... :confused:

Personally I believe they're a couple of years late. Surely I can't be the only one ... ?
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I've got BTVision and its's been streaming for a while now, not bad for a £30 box, but you've gotta have BTBroadband.
 
Manic Mouse said:
Can't they just work out some kind of free rentals system with iTunes?
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Apple haven't been interested up to now - with no fee, there's nothing to take a cut of to make any money on.

I dunno why that would have changed recently, though at least it's now technically feasable.

When the BBC are talking about extending their download service to Macs they're currently looking at doing it using Adobe AIR (when AIR has a bit more work done to it), which will allow the DRM and 7 day catchup (source: BBC Backstage podcasts)

Obviously this means it would not sync to iPods/iPhones. That will only happen if Apple are interested in licencing out Fairplay (which they've never done) or a deal can be done to put it out through iTunes.

Phazer
 
I would have thought its one of those deals which would suit both parties. Apple would definitely sell more Apple TVs if the BBC programmes were available on there.
 
I remember the widely publicized bbc statement that they

would put most of their content like dr. who on the net for FREE! this was about 2 years ago... whatever happened to that?! i like some of their programs but the bbc actually sux! very left wing, and they cant even stream the videos like the news in decent sizes and/or bitrates. my complaint about this was at least answered, but they used some lame licensing fees as an excuse...
 
ascender said:
I would have thought its one of those deals which would suit both parties. Apple would definitely sell more Apple TVs if the BBC programmes were available on there.
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You would have thought, but I'm afraid Apple UK doesn't really have enough strategic leadership to do stuff like this on it's own back (otherwise the UK TV store wouldn't be so poor in the first place).

Phazer
 
pale9 said:
well then i have to say that all the overpaid network goons still haven't realized the web is a global thing. but nothings surprises me anymore as it took steve jobs to show the bonehead music industry managers how to make money with their own product on the web.
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This is the same Steve Jobs that has completely different iTunes stores for different territories, and for instance didn't have a UK iTunes video store at all until a couple of months back, right?

Phazer
 
Don't expect this any time ever. Expect the non-streaming version of iPlayer to be dropped before a Mac version comes along.
 
slot-a said:
Don't expect this any time ever. Expect the non-streaming version of iPlayer to be dropped before a Mac version comes along.
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The non-streaming version isn't going anywhere - it's the only way you'll ever be able to sync content to portable devices, looks much better on a TV screen and will be the only plausible way to deliver HD content, all of which are being built.

The BBC would much people to use the download service, because it hasn't got the money or infrastructure to support the bandwidth required if the streaming service grows significantly - it doesn't bring in any extra revenue if it's successful, since there isn't any advertising.

Phazer
 
The Phazer said:
The non-streaming version isn't going anywhere - it's the only way you'll ever be able to sync content to portable devices, looks much better on a TV screen and will be the only plausible way to deliver HD content, all of which are being built.

The BBC would much people to use the download service, because it hasn't got the money or infrastructure to support the bandwidth required if the streaming service grows significantly - it doesn't bring in any extra revenue if it's successful, since there isn't any advertising.

Phazer
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Precisely, the streaming version was merely to shut up all the idiots wanting it to work out of Windows XP and Internet Explorer.
 
pale9 said:
well then i have to say that all the overpaid network goons still haven't realized the web is a global thing. but nothings surprises me anymore as it took steve jobs to show the bonehead music industry managers how to make money with their own product on the web.
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All content providers would lose money if they offered free programming on a worldwide basis.
 
Now if only they'd let us see and listen to their content here in the 'States...

YOu know, the thing that gets me is that they own, in general, so much of the content they're putting out, and yet they won't distribute it "for free" to the U.S. even though they *will* distribute it "for free" in the U.K. And then they have the temerity to claim "rights issues".

Oh well... Guess they still won't get money from me for one of my all-time favorite TV series... :eek:
 
MikeTheC said:
Now if only they'd let us see and listen to their content here in the 'States...

YOu know, the thing that gets me is that they own, in general, so much of the content they're putting out, and yet they won't distribute it "for free" to the U.S. even though they *will* distribute it "for free" in the U.K. And then they have the temerity to claim "rights issues".

Oh well... Guess they still won't get money from me for one of my all-time favorite TV series... :eek:
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The BBC is a public service broadcaster funded by a licence fee levied on all people who use a TV in the UK to receive TV signals.

As such, they are not allowed to sell people in the UK anything, nor are they allowed to put adverts on things aimed at the UK.

So while it's "free", the theory is that you have to pay £135.50 ($263 US) per year to support it (ignoring all debates about whether this is right or wrong, this is MacRumors - not a TV site).

They have a commercial section (BBC Worldwide) that is allowed to sell things - both in the UK and out of the UK, but as it is commercially motivated it must sell its content. In the US, that comes in the form of BBC America.

The BBC iPlayer is offered entirely by the domestic BBC, so it would not be allowed (by our government) to offer the service to people outside of the UK. There would also be a huge outcry from the general population.
 
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