Latest Technology News:
Technology news from around the world subscribe to our RSS feed.
BBC set to go ahead with controversial iPlayer
30/04/07 - The BBC is ready to launch an internet service that will allow the corporation's TV programmes to be viewed for free. In a move that is expected to lead to criticism the BBC's governing body, The BBC Trust, is to green-light the iPlayer project.The iPlayer offers the same service for TV programmes as the 'Listen Again' service does for the BBC's radio output.
It will stream live TV to PCs and allow all of the corporation's shows including hits like Doctor Who and The Apprentice, to be downloaded and kept for up to a month for free.
The scheme, that has cost £131.2m to develop, has been slammed by DVD retailers and companies that produce software similar to the iPlayer.
The private sector is accusing the corporation of using funds from the licence fee to produce digital services while they suffer from advertising revenue slumps.
The furore over the iPlayer is the biggest test for the BBC Trust since it replaced the governors as the overseers of the corporation at the start of 2007.
The Scheme has already been changed due to objections by OFCOM which insisted downloaded shows must only have a viewing life of 30 days rather than the originally planned 13 weeks.
Downloads of classical music and audio books via the player have also been banned so as to not harm digital rivals market share.
The issue of the BBC distorting the digital market through its activities is an ongoing issue and Hugo Swire, the shadow culture secretary, said yesterday: "We're going to have to see if this Trust has teeth and the iPlayer is the test"
Commercial broadcaster ITV is planning to re-launch its website and will also offer TV on demand as does Channel 4.
Link to this news article using the url below:
http://www.pulsewebhosting.com/news/bbc-set-to-go-ahead-with-controversial-iplayer/84/
Published Date: 2007-04-30 12:58:42Subscribe to our RSS News feed:
Web Hosting RSS
