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Author Topic: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view  (Read 1069 times)

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Offline Miss Demeanour

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BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« on: May 21, 2009, 07:03:47 PM »
The BBC is looking to close the loophole which allows non-licence fee payers to watch programmes on iPlayer.

The BBC's technology chief said viewers were getting 'a free ride' by watching its shows on the internet-based iPlayer rather than on television.

More and more viewers - particularly students - are thought to be watching BBC programmes on demand via iPlayer without having to pay for a TV licence. Viewers can currently use the BBC iPlayer for free, as long as they are only watching programmes after the original broadcast

BBC technology chief Erik Huggers said: 'My view is that if you are using the iPlayer you have to be a television licence fee payer.

'I don't believe in a free ride. If you are consuming BBC services then you have to be a licence holder.' 


If he were to have his way, possible changes to the fee could include:

    * Viewers having to buy an extra licence just for the iPlayer
    * Increasing the cost of the current TV licence to include the iPlayer
    * Forcing viewers to pay a subscription to use the iPlayer service 

The BBC currently blocks overseas access to its iPlayer, saying that its licensing agreements for certain programmes only allow them to be shown in the UK, and that the cost of streaming digital content abroad is prohibitive.

At present, a £142.50 annual colour TV licence is only required to view programmes when they are broadcast - whether on a television set or using the iPlayer's live 'simulcast' feature.

But as a 'catch-up' service the iPlayer also makes shows available for seven days after they were broadcast, and no licence is required to watch these.

A spokesperson for the BBC Trust said the claims were 'completely false'.

Obviously true then  noooo:

Any possible chance of squeezing extra pennies out of anybody and they will grab it with both hands.

They already get nearly £150 a year off me through no choice of mine ...I use iplayer occasionally but if I had to pay extra I simply wouldn't bother  noooo:

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Offline Barman

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2009, 06:07:39 AM »
Thousands of people watch BBC programmes abroad - either by using iPlayer via a proxy server or just having a mahoosive satellite dish...  whistle: So that bit is a load of old bollocks then...  ::)

The BBC is in the fortunate position of not having to make tough commercial decisions - it has its income forcebly collected from its customers in the UK (i.e. anybody with a telly)... I'd suggest that they need to start charging for iPlayer downloads at a point where declining revenue from people owning tellies makes the company uneconomic - I can't see that in the forseeable future tho...

So the decision is simple, does the BBC wish to remain at the 'leading edge', providing its programmes via various routes to their customers or not...? Quite frankly I think watching TV on your laptop or mobile phone is a bit naff... a get-off for techno-freaks... Why don't they just have a couple more digital channels constantly running repeats...?

Or, for the money the BBC wastes spends on  iPlayer and their web site (the biggest in the world I gather) they could just give all of their genuine customers in the UK that have a licence a free PVR.

There you go, job jobbed!
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Offline Bar Wench

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2009, 07:40:53 AM »
I can't even begin to imagine the amount of people that have bbc in Europe. It is a ridiculous number and if they were really that bothered it wouldn't be that difficult to crack down on it.

I use the iplayer lots, it is convenient. I wouldn't use it if I had to pay extra. Why don't they just make it passworded so that you have to enter the number of your tv license in order to view it?
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Offline Miss Demeanour

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2009, 07:43:02 AM »
Quote from: Barman on May 22, 2009, 06:07:39 AM
Quite frankly I think watching TV on your laptop or mobile phone is a bit naff... a get-off for techno-freaks... Why don't they just have a couple more digital channels constantly running repeats...?

Agreed I would not opt to watch a program on my puter if I had to ...but then it's not bad when you hook the pc up to your TV ...if you so choose to do so

As for Wenchy's idea ...that would seem sensible but will not bring them in any extra income so in all likelihood will be unlikely  noooo:

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Offline Bar Wench

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2009, 07:43:59 AM »
Alternatively you can watch the iplayer on your tv via the wii!  cloud9:
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Offline Miss Demeanour

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2009, 07:45:59 AM »
Quote from: Bar Wench on May 22, 2009, 07:43:59 AM
Alternatively you can watch the iplayer on your tv via the wii!  cloud9:

Ahh yes - I had quite forgot that option  lol:
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2009, 11:15:43 AM »
The PIN number using your licence number is a good idea ~ but who the f*ck knows where they put the licence "for safe keeping like"?
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Offline TG

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2009, 02:23:37 PM »
Quote from: Bar Wench on May 22, 2009, 07:43:59 AM
Alternatively you can watch the iplayer on your tv via the wii!  cloud9:

Can you? How? PM me! Tell me!  cloud9:
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Offline Barman

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2009, 03:13:06 PM »
Quote from: TG on May 22, 2009, 02:23:37 PM
Quote from: Bar Wench on May 22, 2009, 07:43:59 AM
Alternatively you can watch the iplayer on your tv via the wii!  cloud9:

Can you? How? PM me! Tell me!  cloud9:
Step 1 - buy a Wii I should think...  ::)
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Offline TG

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2009, 03:16:51 PM »
Quote from: Barman on May 22, 2009, 03:13:06 PM
Quote from: TG on May 22, 2009, 02:23:37 PM
Quote from: Bar Wench on May 22, 2009, 07:43:59 AM
Alternatively you can watch the iplayer on your tv via the wii!  cloud9:

Can you? How? PM me! Tell me!  cloud9:
Step 1 - buy a Wii I should think...  ::)

Got one. PS3 seems to do it. Looking now.
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2009, 03:20:33 PM »
Oi! That's me you're using as an Avatar!  evil:
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Offline Miss Demeanour

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2009, 05:47:02 PM »
I am being really confused by the clashing avatars.. is it national Snoopy avatar day or summit  Shrugs:
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #12 on: May 22, 2009, 05:54:30 PM »
No ~ it is TG being silly.

I'll have to speak sharply to Mrs TG ~ she'll slap his legs.



Or I could summon up the Dark Powers of Admin and change it myself I suppose ....... not as much fun as him getting his legs slapped tho' and then there's all that incanting and invoking and stuff to remember. Life isn't easy being the resident Beagle you know.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2009, 05:57:32 PM by Snoopy »
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Offline Miss Demeanour

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #13 on: May 22, 2009, 05:57:50 PM »
Good - I need some level of consistency in my world  lol:
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: BBC iplayer - should you pay to view
« Reply #14 on: May 22, 2009, 05:58:21 PM »
Cost you a Bonio on Friday next  whistle:
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