UK Viewers Get Raw Deal in BBC/iTunes Linkup


What do you call it when someone tries to sell you something you already own?

As you might know, in the UK we have a Television Tax called the “TV License Fee”. Yes, if you want to watch a television in the UK you have to pay a mandatory, enforced tax. This money goes to the BBC. Even if you never watch a BBC channel.

The plus side to this tax is we pay for lots of lovely BBC programming which makes the content world class (in theory). It used to be that we would get advertising-free content but that only applies to the main two BBC channels and Radio it seems.

Seeing as we have already paid once for this programming you would expect in this intertubes age that they would offer programs for download, and that is exactly what they plan to do with their iPlayer service. While much criticised for using Microsoft DRM and excluding non-Windows users, it has been very successful with over 3.5 million programmes enjoyed since launch.

All good? Yes, until you find out that if you miss your window with iPlayer (or have an incompatible computer) you are going to have to pay iTunes £1.89 for the pleasure. Double what our friends in the USA pay (US$1.99) and even at that price it would be expensive seeing as we already paid for it with the TV tax!

I can understand having to pay for DVD’s. There is manufacture costs, packaging, shipping, storage and such. Should we really pay for digital delivery of already aired tax-funded programming? In Norway they are putting popular shows on Torrents for anyone to download gratis. Why not the BBC?

Initially a small set of series will be trialled. Rumour has it these will include popular shows such as Dr Who and Torchwood. So nearly two pounds an episode for an iPod scale video or by 13 episodes for around the same price in full rippable DVD format along with extras and a nice box. I’d probably choose the latter.

Most people I think would choose to Torrent it. It can’t be stealing, after all … we paid for it already.

Update: It’s now official - Read more over at BBC News.

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Chris Garrett 
Filed Under Content Licensing

Comments

2 Responses to “UK Viewers Get Raw Deal in BBC/iTunes Linkup”

  1. Andy Merrett on February 19th, 2008 1:47 pm

    Yep, usual case of being ripped off.

    With a little forward planning, it’s a lot easier just to schedule your PC to record a series of programmes you want, and burn them to DVD or store on hard drive.

    Doesn’t help if you miss something, though, as you then have to wait for the series to be repeated, or go buy the DVD.

    At least the DVD is likely to be cheaper, or of comparable cost, to buying every episode of a series on iTunes, in much higher quality, and enjoyable using any standard DVD player rather than getting stung by iTunes’ DRM (presuming that these shows will be protected in this way)

    iPlayer is good, despite it being lower quality and with me having to watch it in streaming mode as I’m on a Mac. If only it could be expanded.

  2. Chris Garrett on February 19th, 2008 7:34 pm

    I just saw also that in the US an iPod shuffle is now $49 … but in the UK it is £49 … nice conversion rate huh? :)

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