BBC iPlayer Goes Live In July June 28, 2007

"this looks like a good service for most TV lovers"

Like hell it does, it's crippled by DRM and it's Windows only. Us UK license payers already paid for the content in question yet now we're being told we can only use it for 30 days and we have to use Microsoft (i.e. foreign) software to use it? The fact that they would lock users into Microsoft in the first place just goes to show how little a clue those in charge of the project have.

It's an utter disgrace, especially in light of the public consultation they carried out which was massively against any form of DRM, especially involving Microsoft.

I hope this action leads to the BBC's charter being reviewed, it's essentially a rip-off. I've stood by them through thick and thin and defended license fees to the hilt but that's it for me, let their detector vans come and get me.

Great, us Linux users out in the cold again!

"Great, us Linux users out in the cold again!"

tbh, what do you expect by using Linux? this is a mainstream service designed to appeal to your average-joe, hardly surprising its not supported on Linux...

"The fact that they would lock users into Microsoft in the first place just goes to show how little a clue those in charge of the project have"

What utter nonsense. The BBC are doing the sensible thing and providing software which makes it as easy as possible for the majority of people to view whilst still protecting their copyright. DRM is necessary to ensure the content is not sent all across the world and viewable by non-license payers, and Microsoft software is the natural and sensible choice since that is the platform already in use by the vast majority of its UK audience. These anti-Microsoft nerds need to wake up to the real world.

You're so wrong, Andy. Releasing iPlayer for Windows-only consumption was a poor move on the BBC's part, because now they'll have given an incentive to those not using its software to obtain back episodes through much less legitimate mediums.

And in any case, referring to us "anti-Microsoft nerds" thus is pretty ironic, given you are the recipient of thousands of images each day created by said group – I implore you, name one film studio that uses Movie Maker for post-production, one graphic design company that uses lovely(!) paint BMP files to distribute its media. Not even Microsoft touches these crude, half-arsed excuses for software with a barge pole. So why don't you wake up to the real world – one where M$ really is as bad as people make out; one where people like you make ill-informed assertions about communities that are far, far more influential than you can possibly comprehend.
Anyway, I'd better stop typing before you BSOD. I've already called tech support for you.

MiLK - "this is a mainstream service designed to appeal to your average-joe, hardly surprising its not supported on Linux..."

Get a grip on yourself mate. This is a service which SHOULD be accessible to every single license payer, not just those who choose to use Windows. The BBC has intentionally locked out all those users who choose a different method of using a computer, thus granting them lower status than other license payers.

And Andy, the content can easily be locked down to the UK or to people who can provide proof of TV license payment without using Microsoft DRM. That way license payers can access it for free while others will have to sign up and payt for it. The BBC's chosen method is ill thought out and a general disgrace.

Cal - very good points about Movie Maker and BMP files, never thought of that before!

eek fan boys

Legally, paying your TV licence entitles you to nothing more than keeping a TV set in your house. It's not a subscription fee and doesn't guarantee you any level of service or access to the BBCs other facilities.

Why Windows? Well the BBC don't want to pay for huge and ever-expanding bandwidth to download direct from their servers so they need peer-to-peer distribution. And the production companies require some sort of closed and secure system which leaves one option - Kontiki. It's used by others such as Sky for the same purpose. It's a horrible thing that runs event when the player isn't running, eating up your bandwidth, beaming details of your system back to base and is a pain to remove. But it's currently the only option and only supports Windows. Other OSs don't have that cheap and easy solution so thay have to wait for either a bespoke replacement or a port of Kontiki.

The DRM issue is probably not down to the BBC themselves. They don't own all of the content that they broadcast and the copyright holders most likely insist on the use of DRM and encryption before they'll allow anything to be distributed on the Internet. Until Linux can provide some sort of recognised secure DRM system you're going to be stuck with no service or just a limited subset of what the content owners are willing to release into the public domain.

I tried the iPlayer beta and it requires network ports to be opened and forwared to a specific machine, not very good if you want more than one computer on a network to use the software.

Nasty DRM, & poorly thought out mashup of browser interface + client app-functionality, just make it a pure web page FFS.

Bad idea poorly executed.

Hang on, it will be available on the Mac by the end of August (ish) I think. So can't be only Microsoft DRM. They are actually releasing first version as open BETA on windows, then more OS etc.. to come. It takes time ya know, and sadly majority OS is going to get first bite. Shame I know, but thems the breaks. A note on DRM, BBC has to use DRM. They probably don't fully own all they show, so its not uncommon for people such as HBO, Discovery Channel etc.. to stipulate DRM 30days etc.. as part of the internet licensing agreement. We shouldn't just level complaint at the BBC.

One last note, true I pay a license fee but that doesn't entitle me to record and keep forever. In fact, I think if you go by the letter of the law, recording from TV and keeping forever (in the UK) has never been legal. It's just wasn't enforecable, unless someone checked all my video tapes. So the way I see it, 30 days ain't bad. I never keep anything on my PVR for more than 30 days anyway.

seems like quite a good idea to me. I will definately be checking it out.

Once again the BBC is useing licence payers money to develope yet another digital service tthat not every one who HAS to pay for a licence has access to. If the BBC continues to invest in the digital channels then it should make access to them completly free and provide those without computers or freeview boxes, the necassary equipment to do so or the govenment should abolish the licence fee, in time for the big switch over.

"What utter nonsense. The BBC are doing the sensible thing and providing software which makes it as easy as possible for the majority of people to view"

The BBC charter states that its content should be available to all licence-payers, it does not say "as long as they are clueless Windows schmucks"

I remember when we moved from B/W to colour TV's...the BBC bought everyone in the country a new colour TV so they could all receive this new service.......oh hang on, they didn't did they!!! Of course B/W tv's still work with the colour signal so my argument is a little thin ;-) But the move to digital is pretty easy, not too expensive, and we have had years to prepare. I back the licence fee. From all I've read I've always believed a Windows iPlayer would be first, but not the only kind....especially in beta form. Get the layout and method working first before you redo it for 4 other O/S's seems sensible and saves £££'s.

Sounds Intresting, wehey BBC and i cant wait!