“The BBC Trust has given the go-ahead to the corporation’s iPlayer on-demand service, but with a number of changes including some proposed by media watchdog Ofcom,” MarketingWeek reports.
MarketingWeek reports, “Diane Coyle, the BBC Trust member who chairs the public value test steering group, says: ‘Our view is that the BBC’s new on-demand services are likely to deliver significant public value, and should be allowed to proceed, but subject to certain conditions in order to reduce the potential negative market impact.'”
“BBC management has been asked to ensure that the on-demand TV services work on all computer operating systems, not just Microsoft’s Windows XP and Windows Media Player 10,” MarketingWeek reports.
MarketingWeek reports, “The Trust’s proposals will go to further consultation, with a March 28 deadline for submissions. A final decision is expected in May.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “John D.” for the heads up.]
Bravo! Now, let’s see if they actually do it.
Take part in the public consultation (takes about 5-minutes): http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/open-consultations/ondemand_services.html
[UPDATED: February 1, 2007: 8:45am.]
Don’t hold your breath.
I agree, ron. Nothing about the “Beeb” or England as a whole is Mac friendly. After all, Apple represents individual choice and the freedom to “think different.” Microsoft represents “think just the same as everybody else,” a philosophy with which Englanders have always been comfortable. Remember, “The Communist Manifesto,” “Brave New World” and “1984” were written for citizens of the Sceptered Isle, not–NOT–those of the New World.
The BBC Trust will NEVER assent to Mac-inclusion. NEVER.
if ofcom have requested it, they’ll have to do it, by law as far as I know… otherwise, they’ll have to start doing without my license fee – I already resent funding “Dancing on Ice”.
They should make them available on the UK iTunes store for free, much cheaper than their expensive to be built MS option.
After all, British tax payers paid for every minute of it and more…(the plan is content self destructs 30 days after downloading)
“services work on all computer operating systems”
The way it should have been from the get go-why alienate or exclude anyone?
The BBC sucks, and everyone knows it. They’ve always been very anti-Mac. This will be a first if they actually do it.
The Norwegian Ombudsman’s head just exploded.
“Too . .many . . conflicting . . messages. Must . . assimilate.”
However Linux and Mac use may not come into effect until 24 months prior to the service launching. See page 11
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review-report-research/pvt_iplayer/iplayer_pvt_provisional_conclusions.pdf
And they are talking about using Real player in additon to Windows Media Player!!!
I and I expect many other Mac users would prefer the shows to be available through iTunes or at least Quicktime. Although not sure how this would work as BBC shows would need to be free to UK users whilst limiting storage to 7 days (or what ever they decide).
The way it should have been from the get go-why alienate or exclude anyone?
The answer is that the bbc have cut deals with certain companies to supply equipment, the link to all these companies is microsoft
The BBC have been nti mac for a long time and the bias can be seen in their so called computer show on BBC News ‘click’
I get fed up of having how innovative MS are and how Vista is the most secure OS ever released by anyone
MW: Audience as why cater to all of them
BBC = Commie-Terrorist Lovers
On Microsoft, see this great quote from the BBC’s website about Vista security:
“The more useable and convenient you make it, especially for non-technical people, the more risk there is that there is a chink in the armour,”
Mr Emm just can’t have heard of Mac OSX
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6316253.stm
reezle: you didn’t fund Dancing on Ice – that was shown on ITV, a commercial channel, and was nothing to do with the BBC.
“Englanders”
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”LOL” style=”border:0;” /> I like it.
If the dread BBC actually does a pro-Mac thing I’ll be surprised, but (as license-tax payer) very pleased.
Why can’t Auntie just stick progs on iTunes which has x-platform compatibility already??
I’ve emailed the BBC’s iPlayer team about this in the past, and have received similar replies that other UK broadcasters who deliver content over the web provide.
Love to do it. Rights holders demand DRM. Only DRM scheme on Mac is FairPlay. Apple do not license FairPlay.
On the one hand, it’s nice if they do include support for the Mac. On the other hand, who gives crap?
You know, I’m against legislating personal choices, but I’m not against legislation or corporate mandates that ensure that we even have choices. I wonder if any of us stops to think about just how close we’ve come to completely losing our choice to NOT use Windows. It’s just plain scary.
Bingo mudflapper. I can find all the antisemitic content I can stomach without having to resort to visiting the BBC’s website.
MDN MW:”Trying”
I’m trying to find a reason why I should give two craps what the BBC does.
Randian are you for real?
In case you are:
Judging by the growing Mac use I see here in England and the growing number of Apple Stores I think we’re more than comfortable with Macs.
Btw maybe you mean Britain not England as England is part of the island of Great Britain. I’m guessing you’re American Judging by your ignorance. As for us not being prepared to think different, I suppose that’s why we seem to lead the world when it comes to inventions and design etc which tend to require people to think different.
And for the other thickos out there, no the BBC is not anti Mac, they even make use of Macs and people who work for them aren’t afraid to say they use Macs. Some people just need to get a life and stop being so paranoid. The BBC are the most respected news service out there and the site keeps winning various best news website awards but some people just throw a fit when they deem something to be anti Mac or even anti American.
Having said that, the BBC clearly need to make the service mac compatible, but they are a bit hampered when MS don’t make the DRM for Mac and Apple doesn’t license its own DRM. Channel 4 is in the same position with its download service but they tell me they want to make it available for Mac users and will just as soon as someone provides a solution. Maybe that will come from Apple and not MS.
Andy
English, British and a Mac fan who is not paranoid.
Max: “The BBC are the most respected news service out there…”
Out where? Respected by whom? That’s a wonderfully clever blanket statement that’s empty of any kind of substance. You’re obviously not an ignorant American, Andy. You’re an ignorant Brit. Besides the funny accent, what’s the difference?
“I’ve emailed the BBC’s iPlayer team about this in the past, and have received similar replies that other UK broadcasters who deliver content over the web provide.
Love to do it. Rights holders demand DRM. Only DRM scheme on Mac is FairPlay. Apple do not license FairPlay.”
You’re forgetting RealNetworks’ Helix DRM scheme, which is compatible with Mac, Linux, Windows and Solaris. So noone can complain really. Sure it’s not as good as Quicktime/iTunes, but until Apple license FairPlay (which they won’t) it’s the best bet for video-on-demand on the Mac.
This is what they’ve suggested in the report. So long as the RealPlayer solution is as feature-rich as the WMV one then I’ll be happy-ish, but maybe the BBC should negotiate with DVD Jon over licensing FairPlay?
“Out where? Respected by whom? That’s a wonderfully clever blanket statement that’s empty of any kind of substance. You’re obviously not an ignorant American, Andy. You’re an ignorant Brit. Besides the funny accent, what’s the difference?”
Name a more respected news source.
That’s no challenge, pog. Here a challenge: Name a respected news source.
Way to dodge the question. My answer to your question: The BBC.
@ Randian ; Feelin a bit dizzy ? You should think twice before you post drivel…
= )
No, reallly, you should.
“Microsoft represents “think just the same as everybody else,” a philosophy with which Englanders have always been comfortable”…
I don’t know what kind of crack Randian is smoking, but he should clearly stop now. Britain is at the forefront of creativity in everything from cutting-edge fashion to graphic design and art. Mac’s are just a popular in the UK as they are in the US. The Beeb might not be super Mac friendly, but it’s clearly not representative of the UK as a whole.
The BBC can often be a very respected source!
But how do you define that? Or whose definition do you believe?
Nevertheless the Beeb is “a widely respected news source”.
Of course, the problem with some of the Little Americans who post on this site is that they are so insecure in their nationhood that their only comfort is knocking the country which effectively provided the template for many of their institutions.
You see the same thing with some Australians, but at least when they claim to be the World Champions of something, it tends to be a sport that other countries play.
And just to round it off for those who like knocking Brits…
1) You wouldn’t have this web page, HTML or HTTP if it wasn’t for a Brit, namely Sir Tim Berners-Lee who developed the system using a NeXT system.
2) Nearly all of Apple’s products since 1998 share a common industrial designer, namely Jonathan Ive – another Brit.
3) The UK is now so important to Apple’s international business that Apple moved their European headquarters back to Stockley Park after being in Paris for many years.
4) If the BBC is so anti-Apple/Mac, how come the BBC Motion Library is so comprehensively committed to QuickTime and H.264?
5) This is mainly for Jay Rice’s benefit: the BBC has delivered consistent coverage of the so-called “war on terriers” (or whatever your retarded head of state is calling it today as he mangles the English language using what’s left of his alcohol-stunted, coke-addled brain) since Day One. It should be noted that a study group that includes Chimpy McFlightsuit’s father’s consigliere (James Baker) as a member thinks that Iraq is a fsck-up, so presumably the whole of the Iraq Study Group is also full of terrier-loving commies. Still, at least GWB has you, Laura and the dog on his side. BTW, surprised that you’re still around; I can remember that you used to claim that the Democrats were never going to regain any influence in Washington – goes to prove how much you know.
Biscuit: had no about the Real Player DRM. I’ll be emailing BBC, Channel Four, Five and BSkyB laters.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Interestingly, the majority of BBC output over the web is in RealPlayer anyway; they restrict use by geo-IP (e.g. so you can’t watch ‘Top Geap’ over in USA, but can in UK). However, their recent _dealings_ with Microsoft has meant they have started offering video clips and streaming programmes in Windows Media. 🙁
They should stick with Real or maybe … just maybe … Apple will license FairPlay to likes of BBC.
Fanatic Realist
Chill dude, have some water man. No more coffee! Jeez!
CNN and other A-hole-merican news sources propagating myth and propaganda that the BBC News service promotes myth and propaganda. Now which is which?
MSN Magic word: this, as in ‘This is going off topic and the BBC does way more than just news’.
What’s next folks: My king can kick your president’s but! – No way man, my president can kick your king’s ass!
And if you don’t all stop you’re all going to bed with no supper!
As an American, I believe that, if the BBC does not make their product cross platform compatible, there will be an out cry from Mac users around the globe who do choose to listen/watch the BBC online.
Don’t make me say it again.
My response to Real Media – Oh lord no!!! I hate to use the word hate, but I really hate Real Media, not the company, the product – please no…
I guess that would be the Queen’s but since there is no king, yet. My apologies.
…the queen’s butt…
…Right…
Here’s a clue to all of you frothing-at-the-mouth leftists: ad hominem attacks don’t get people to pay attention to you. They just tune you out. So you hate Bush. Big deal. Until you learn to take issue with ideas instead of slogans; until you learn to take issue with ideas instead of name-call individuals; until you learn that “dialog” does not mean “one-way dissemination”, you won’t make much of an impact.
Now as to the BBC, the question is “respected by whom”? The BBC doesn’t win much respect from people who know the news, and by this, I mean people who spend their time analyzing the news. The BBC is surely respected by Islamic anti-semites, because the BBC spends so much time passing along their vile Jew-hatred.
As for “respect”, here’s my final thought — it’s earned. The BBC hasn’t yet earned my respect.
Let competition sort this out.
1. If the BBC uses a PC only player to DL their content, then I and many others won’t subscribe to it.
2. BBC could work with Apple to move their content via iTunes. Not a full subscription service per se.
could someone tell me if its possible to put an ipod into the new airport extreme as a disk?
The BBC have too many ties with M$.
The trustees must insist.
The should see which way the tide is flowing and make it so.
Unfortunately there are too many government ties to M$ in the use of networked PCs and that brings with it – undue pressure.
BustingTheSkullsOfIdiots: As Keith Chegwin on Extras said, “The BBC is run by Jews and Queers”. Although that was a comedic point, it is to a large part true, so I would say any allegation of the BBC being anti-semitic is laughable at best. Where do you get this shit from exactly? Have you actually watched the BBC news and found it to be anti-semitic? My guess would be no, you’re just passing along whatever propaganda has been told to you by wherever you get your news from.
Oh boy, where to begin? The BBC News Service has a self-admitted anti-Israel bias. I don’t anyone who takes any of the news machines with little more than a grain of salt. News isn’t news anymore, it’s opinion and propaganda. The middle-east coverage brought to you by the BBC, that FR is so fond of, is information that is purchased through a Middle East news vendor. As is the AP’s, AFP’s, Reuters, et al. It’s little more than propaganda as evidenced by the reporting during the latest skirmish between Israel and Lebanon. (Remember Green Helmet guy?) So, take your news anyway you like but it doesn’t take too much scratching under the surface to realize that the BBC is hardly the model of accuracy and honestly. I’m sure there are plenty of fine BBC news people but as an organization they have some serious problems.
Otherwise I couldn’t care less if the BBC reaches out to Mac users as I wouldn’t be inclined to reach back.
pog, please google BBC admits anti-israel bias and go from there
The BBC Technology website SUCKS ASS.
Pro-Micro$oft, Anti-Apple, I’ve had many an email argument with Mark Ward, their so called ‘Technology Correspondent’
Avoid at all costs.
If you live in the UK, please complete the Public Open Consultantion Request
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/open-consultations/ondemand_services.html
Especially, Question 5 which is “How important is it that the proposed seven-day catch-up service over the internet is available to consumers who are not using Microsoft software?”
It’s very important, but if we don’t tell them they won’t listen!
If we can get a million MacHeads clicking on meaningless internet polls because they’ve seen it listed on MacDailyNews, can some people please take the time to complete the consultantion form … it will actually change something for the better for the Mac community.
I will admit, however, that I think ‘Are You Being Served’ is freaking hilarious and I schedule my evening around it. That’s a shining example of BBC entertainment, albeit from the 70’s.
OBill-Wan Kenobi: so what if BBC is slightly bias against Israel? It’s only one country of the 193 in the world. Only contains 6.199 million of the 6.525 billion people alive in the world. Most of the rest of world can’t work out why USA gives a rats ass about the place.
MDN Magic Word: nation (how appropriate)
All windows users need to decay and disappear.
the service is called iPlayer for fsck sake! it better be Mac compatible if they are going to use Apple’s lexicon
tt,
Here here…
look morons UK has been Apple’s most loyal market outside of north America.
> …if the BBC does not make their product cross platform compatible, there will be an out cry from Mac users around the globe who do choose to listen/watch the BBC online…
I stopped watching them. I mean, RealPlayer, how lame is that? I avoid Real by choice.
Market share ≠ standard.
The internet is for everybody. It is not a platform for Microsoft’s mediocrity, or even Apple’s superiority, but a mechanism to deliver information & content based on independent, industry-approved standards.
@ How To Ensure…
Thanks for drawing our attention to this. I completed the BBC Trust’s survey, and I join you in urging others to do the same.
“Click Online makes Balamory look like Newsnight”
@Randian
As a Pommie and an Aussie i take umbrage to your remarks about “Englanders”. I am also totally confused by your post in regard to the
“…”think just the same as everybody else,” a philosophy with which Englanders have always been comfortable. Remember, “The Communist Manifesto,” “Brave New World” and “1984” were written for citizens of the Sceptered Isle, not–NOT–those of the New World”
Well you are right about Brave New World, Huxley wrote that with America and Americanization as one of its underlying tenets.
Still, my head is spinning with discombobulated concern for your mental health and well-being. How on earth do you correlate and delineate the Communist Manifesto to England and the English, besides the name of one of the authors being Friedrich Engels but he was German not an Engelander… True, Friedrich was concerned with the shocking conditions of the working class people in Manchester (Mancunians) and Manchester being the worlds fist industrialized city, his thoughts would have been right.
You mention two books – Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four, two novels commonly seen as as the dystopian models in literature. Put simply they are both celebrated for – Watch out people, coz Big Brother is bad news for everyone(much like the tv show is).
Beware Randian with your solipsistic views the “Ministry of Love” might be on the lookout for you.
Unless you postulate that :-
WAR IS PEACE.
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY.
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
Do you?
@ How To Ensure… and @Brit. I agree. If we want to be heard and to be taken into consideration then every Mac lover should complete the BBC Trust’s survey, these new – On demand services to be offered by the BBC can only be beneficial to everyone in the long term. If you want to bring the Microsoft walls down within the BBC then speak up – fight from the inside, we have been given the chance. The BBC Trust are doing their best to make it happen and to ensure a level playing field for everyone.
As an Apple Mac user my main concern is connectivity and accessibility. People who do not use Microsoft software should not be discriminated against. The capability and proficiency of the framework should be bipartisan. Freedom of access for all is a vital element of knowledge. Options yield and augment the right, power and freedom of choice, i feel that the freedom of choice should be fostered and encouraged in the iPlayer framework.
Apple inc’s market share has seen exponential growth since OSX and the transition to the Intel x86 chip-set and IMHO this growth is set to continue with the release of the new operating system, Leopard 10.5 the millions of new Mac users should not be discriminated against due to their choice of operating system.
@ How To Ensure… @Brit …@ SKY LARK:
I too agree. Forget about whether the BBC is left/liberal or whatever, just think of its global reach. This is a major international broadcaster that has the power to influence technical standards not only in the UK but also elsewhere.
If you want to be taken seriously, then fill in the questionnaire with REASONED comments. Otherwise MS will simply win by default.
My own view is increasingly that Apple should make some concessions to licensing FairPlay. If they don’t they are handing the wider market to MS on a plate. Fine iTunes is a nice shop, but why buy Apple TV if everything else needs WMP? May as well just buy the one box- a Windows Media Centre. It’s “good enough”.
Ive written to bbc several times requesting that there media be playable on a mac, preferably Quicktime. yes they have real player but it sucks.
Why not offer Win media player and Quicktime? This is just normal video content Im talking about.
Their response was that they had to consider the wider audience. Thats their attitude, that mac users arn’t worth a shit. Yes some of the tech guys working for the BBC may use macs, I dont doubt they do, but what about the people that visit their website, and pay their bills?
On another general point, why is the color used on the BBC so grey? It’s all so unsaturated, it’s like they don’t want people to enjoy watching it. To be honest It just looks washed-out and 1970’s compared to american TV.
Their news programs ramble on, and on, and on about boring sh*t for hours on end, with no conclusion, it really is english mentality and it’s best.
re: randian.
I agree, ron. Nothing about the “Beeb” or England as a whole is Mac friendly. After all, Apple represents individual choice and the freedom to “think different.” Microsoft represents “think just the same as everybody else,” a philosophy with which Englanders have always been comfortable. Remember, “The Communist Manifesto,” “Brave New World” and “1984” were written for citizens of the Sceptered Isle, not–NOT–those of the New World.
The BBC Trust will NEVER assent to Mac-inclusion. NEVER.
—–
Comments from someone who has never lived in england…
Hey, folks, I’m living in Maryland, USA, and was born and raised in Texas.
But I want you to know that I have great respect for the British and regret the negative comments here from misinformed and ignorant countrymen of mine.
This is a tech site, mainly devoted to the Mac community and things that impact that community. Regretfully, there are a few ignorant and uncultured idiots that cannot carry a decent discussion and wouldn’t know logic if it bit them where they sit. Therefor, you often see stupid comments with inappropriate political barbs(from both sides of the political spectrum) where it does nothing but show the ignorance and idiocy of the poster.
For that, and on behalf of my countrymen (whether they want me to or not!) I apologize. There are good reasons why Britain and the US remain solid allies, despite our often wide political differences domestically.
I hope it stays that way for a good long time.
I completed the questionnaire as soon as I saw a reference to it on MacWorld’s UK site.
I hope all other licence payers do the same.
I chose to stress that it would discriminate against a significant and growing percentage of the viewing public given that Apple’s share of the consumer market could be between 10% and 16%.
Thanks, Rahrens!
Can I point out that the BBC will only be interested in the views of British TV license payers. It won’t be very helpful if millions of enthusiastic American Mac fans swamp the site as it would look like there’s some sort of on-line campaign, which might reduce the impact of the points that have already been made by the UK Mac community.
I would most certainly encourage any UK residents to respond and to make their views known ( postcode is required for registration ).
Look like Brits are second in line to Americans regarding knowledge of their own countries.
be you mean Britain not England as England is part of the island of Great Britain.
Great Britain is not an island, you silly old git, the British Isles are, and it isn’t “great” because it has nuclear subs but no central heating. “Great” is merely a term for the union of separate kingdoms, soon to be reversed, anyway. When it is, Britain legitimately could be called Once-Great Britain, as it is now, outside of polite society; that is, everywhere but in “Great” Britain.
I’m guessing you’re American Judging by your ignorance.
I know you’re a Brit because you are incapable of constructing a grammatical, syntactically sound sentence.
As for us not being prepared to think different, I suppose that’s why we seem to lead the world when it comes to inventions and design etc which tend to require people to think different.
Right. Like the Newcomen engine. Nothing since 1711, though.
The British Isles are islands – plural you silly git. Great Britain is the collective name for England, Scotland and Wales (the whole is an island). I think that you are referring to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to give it its full title.
The “Great” in Great Britain is a reference to its size compared to what is now called Brittany and was coined by the Romans.
Before bashing people about getting facts straight you might want to check your own.
I’m getting fed up with the attitude of some of the Americans on the Internet these days. Whatever problem you might have with the BBC (I’m not saying they are perfect) try to avoid tarring the whole nation with the same brush. As was pointed out above, we are supposed to be allies.
Also worth noting that the LCD display was invented by Brits :p
I did that Google and found nothing but a bunch of ridiculous blogs, and nowhere where the BBC “admits anti-Israel bias”.
BBC does not “buy its news from a middle east news service” they have their own correspondents in the regions. Frankly the bias you see if actually your own. Rather like viewers of Fox News seeing Liberal bias in everything because they are so used to everything being so Right wing slanted. I fear you are used to American media where everything Israel does is 100% great and fine and nothing to complain about. The BBC reports on the reality of the Israel/Palestine conflict as not being entirely one sided “good verses evil, and this is what you see as “anti-Isreal”.
Also worth noting that the LCD display was invented by Brits :p
Wrong, says about:Inventors. The original was invented by an American. The improved version was, too.
I’ve told the Beeb to adopt the QuickTime 7 (H.264) standard they’ve used for the BBC Motion Gallery. (http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/) It’s about as good as you can get anywhere for Streaming Media, and it’s cross-platform, so it should be a snip to do it as downloadable files. They’ve got the technology there, and you don’t need an iPlayer or whatever.
I went ahead and participated in the questionnaire. If anyone is interested in seeing my answers, they can be viewed here.
Here here, the BBC’s motion gallery is fantastic and should be how BBC content be formatted for streaming all other material.
On the subject of licence fees, which I am one, by law, I am still trying to find a place where I can pick a free copy of the Blue Planet on DVD.
After all I’ve already paid for the series to have been made and so I should be able to simply ask for a free copy of the entire series on DVD.
Trivia, if you’re over 75 and living in the UK then you don’t have to pay a licence fee at all, its free to those whose homes has a person of that age or higher living there.