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BBC working on global video-on-demand software
But it looks like we may soon have the option of paying to access an iPlayer-like service. PaidContent reports that BBC Worldwide plans to launch a global video portal. It's not entirely clear to me from the article whether users would be expected to pay for each video they want to watch or whether you'll be able to pay a monthly or annual fee to access the content. But I'm a bit concerned about one quote from a BBC official stating that Torchwood fans might be willing to pay $10 per episode rather than the $2 per episode you'd pay to watch the same show from iTunes.
What do you think? Would you pay $10 to watch a single episode of Doctor Who or Torchwood, or at that rate would you just sign up for a cable or satellite provider that carries BBC America? Or you know, resort to other, shadier means to get your fill of BBC Science Fiction programming.
Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsDave ForsterOct 7th 2009 11:27AM
..."No matter how much we want to watch the latest Doctor Who episodes online, we haven't paid for that right"...
Well I've paid for it and choose not to watch it on the TV or online simply because it's pants! Pretty much like everything the Beeb does. Unfortunately I can't refuse to pay by BBC licence fee... if I did i'd end up in the Tower Dungeons.
If you pay my licence fee i'll gladly donate my Dr. Who viewing rights to you. :-)
r3loadedOct 7th 2009 1:00PM
If you don't watch TV, don't pay it!
master811Oct 7th 2009 2:07PM
Technically you don't need to pay a licence fee to watch iPlayer (as it's not live content - well most of it isn't).
Although its funded by it, you could argue as it's not broadcast, you don't need a licence (as you would watching pre-recorded stuff).
Dave ForsterOct 7th 2009 2:25PM
Not sure where you guys live but the TV licence fee in UK doesn't work like that.
If you have any equipment whatsoever capable of receiving a broadcast signal (live or otherwise) you need to pay the licence fee... it's the law, no exclusions. It isn't like a subscriber tv service such as cable or satellite. This is what annoys TV licence fee payers... it's an institutionalised rip off !
BTW, businesses in the UK are also required by law to pay the licence fee if they allow any of their employees to watch BBC content.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8285795.stm
master811Oct 7th 2009 4:18PM
@ Dave Forster
Nope, you do not need a licence if the TV you have isn't used to watch stuff broadcast live. For instance if it's only used for games consoles or to watch DVDs etc, then you don't need a licence for that.
They may threaten you with not having one, but they can't do anything unless they can prove you have been watching it live.
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/nolicence.jsp
nekoOct 7th 2009 2:32PM
or bbc could just come out with an internet-only partial license that anyone instead of just citizens could get. since roughly 14 shows doesn't exactly equal an entire year.
Dave ForsterOct 8th 2009 2:56AM
@master811
The clause you refer to is meaningless to the majority. If you have any equipment capable of providing a broadcast ie. cable, sat, pc tv tuner, terrestrial aerial.... even those crappy little indoor aerials you get with portables your gona have to pay it, whether you can get bbc channels or not. Believe me there have been plenty of people tried and failed to beat the system. The use of the word "live" is completely pointless too, becuase there will always be at least one channel broadcasting something at any given moment....
... but back to my original post.... Dr. Who is rubbish, the BBC is rubbish ... I watch other channels therefore I pay. The rip off part is the fact I could de-tune every BBC channel and still have to pay!
GeoffOct 12th 2009 5:03PM
I happen to find the BBC top class and leagues ahead of other broadcasters.
If it was so crap Murdoch wouldn't be wetting himself in trying to close down BBC Iplayer and the BBC News website in general.
If I lived abroad, I'd pay £150 a year to watch Iplayer.