ok i agree not intended to be viewed outside uk and by using ip changing software i am able to watch and download to my hearts content

Thanks BBC and soon ITV.

Ron

rc

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I think people are getting way too excited and ahead of themselves here.

Most importantly, this is mainly for the commercial post-catch-up period allowed under contract-right-renewal/pact rights already

secondly, the main platform will simply be either a convergence and building atop the existing foundations of Kontiki, or using Flash with Air.

So essentially, while it’s good for the UK broadcasters to lead the world in universality and ubiquity, don’t get too excited yet!

Yours kindly,

Shakir Razak

This is a great move by the UK broadcasters as far as the public are concerned, as even having 4OD and BBC iPlayer running at the same time is annoying at best. Hopefully, we will finally be able to actually watch what we want when we want from all the main channels.

However, I do see a few problems:

1) DRM - the single most annoying thing about corporate steps ‘forward’ in technology and distribution. We should be abel to watch it when and where we like - not limited to 7 days after broadcast or whatever limits they plan on setting. I really, really hope they don’t use Windows Media rights management and instead opt for H.264 encoded AVIs or MKVs, but it isn’t likely. With BBC content - being as we pay a license fee for it, the only restriction should really be for UK only users anyway.

2) Compatibility - an issue that comes with DRM - this will have to work on Windows XP/Vista and Mac OSX to get started, and should really support Linux too. Maybe if they made the client open source and just created it specifically for Windows and OSX then some Linux users would port it themselves.

3) Limiting the emergence of new stations and channels. If this platform is wholly owned by BBC/ITV/Channel4 then I imagine they can/will monopolise it and prevent smaller independent channels from using the service. However, if they built an open architecture and then leave the possibility for others to join the service it would become very interesting. The architecture could allow anyone to start a station, but they would need their own servers and hardware to support the channel’s demand. This would allow the smaller UK channels like Channel5/FX/Dave to also use the service and appeal to the audience.

So Windows DRM again! sort it out for Mac please. I’d be happy with something like Joost because it’s provides a decent user experience.