Interesting Guardian article -- The Astra 2D Forum

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: [1], 2, 3, 4 ]

Subject: Interesting Guardian article

Author:
Ken

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 13:12:25 01/22/04 Thu

However, the Beeb CAN limit access outside the UK, like its existing (very limited) Broadband service. If they can't clear the rights for a few snippets of EastEnders (which is all they've got) then God help the rest of us.

BBC lines up for instant repeats

Richard Wray
Wednesday January 21, 2004
The Guardian

Missed that crucial episode of EastEnders? Forgot to set the video for Ground Force? Never fear, for, from later this year viewers of BBC television will

ADVERTISEMENT

be able to watch the last seven days' programming online.
The introduction of an interactive media player (iMP) is part of the corporation's drive to play a part in promoting the take-up of broadband among the mass of British consumers.

The BBC's director of new media and technology, Ashley Highfield, said yesterday that the iMP will build on the success of the BBC's radio player which allows web-users to listen to previously broadcast shows. It is planning a new version of the player with a host of new functions for later this year.

While radio shows can be played on a computer with a relatively slow connection to the internet, getting television over the web will need broadband. Up to now most consumers have felt little need for fast, always-on internet access.

Because of the issue of repeat fees, it is likely that the first set of programmes to appear on the web will be wildlife documentaries.

Today's report from the Broadband Stakeholder Group makes it plain that the BBC can play a crucial role in persuading these people to sign up, something that Mr Highfield accepts. "Being able to watch that week's TV is something that everyone can understand," he said. "Our aspiration is to make it really simple - we have got to make the web as easy as just pressing the red button on interactive TV and I think that is something we can do.

"Clearly those people who have already got broadband are the early adopters and I am not sure they are the people who will tip it for the majority."

The BBC is also working on other ways to increase consumer interest in broadband. Mr Highfield is considering "broadbanderising" the BBC website, which gets 10m visitors a month.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]