Your thoughts on BBC radio's digital services

Jamey

I know I should probably post this in Cake Stop but I like all you guys and feel more comfortable here so if the mods will permit it, I'd prefer the thread to stay in Commuting, please.

Right, onto the actual subject... I know this is a pretty general thing to ask but I'm after your views on the digital/interactive services to do with BBC radio stations. Things like the iPlayer, Podcasts, etc etc.

So with that in mind...

• What, if anything, would you do to improve BBC radio output, specifically around the digital and interactive offerings?
• What would you get rid of?
• Any other questions I should have asked you about BBC radio? Any general views you'd like to air?

lost_in_thought

Why?

I'd have an archive of podcasts accessible. For example, since Ross and Brand are now off radio 2 I would like to have a collection of their podcasts to amuse me!

Also radio 4 NewsQuiz. I would really, really like an archive of that. I would also like to be able to subscribe just to that - I don't like the other friday night comedy so much.

If this already exists, please feel free to point me in the right direction!

Jamey

That's exactly the sort of stuff I'm after, thank you LiT.

cougie

I think they dont archive stuff so that they can sell the CDs of ISIHAC and stuff.

I would love the Archers Omnibus to be podcasted - and the afternoon plays.

I heard some good stuff on R7 at the weekend - Philip Pullman trilogy. BBC Radio is the best - i cant stand teh commercial stuff.

Littigator

I love Radio 6....awesome stuff

Coriander

Now, this may seem a little insignificant in the greater scheme of the BBC's digital radio servcie, but that there are3 hours (count 'em - THREE hours) of toddler's radio on Radio 7 when Radio 4 is boring the pants of everybody with Gardeners' Question Time infuriates me practically every week.

And yes, I do realise this is nothing to do with your original question. But thank you for giving me the opportunity to get it off my chest.

DonDaddyD

Make 1Xtra more accessible and more ethnically appealing.

Make a proper Reggae/Ragga BBC digital channel a little like Vibes FM!

Rich158

Personally I either use R7, or subscribe to the podcasts, current favourites are the Friday night comedy and In our time. That way I can build up my own archives that I keep indefinately.

biondino

1. Create a BBC-wide system where originating producers and talent receive royalties on material disseminated by online services including iplayer.

2. Keep licence periods for material to be used on the many BBC online, interactive and public services down to reasonable periods with no lengthy licences or buyouts in perpetuity.

3. Ensure licences do not try and exploit the originators of material by acquiring a vast raft of rights the BBC will likely never need

Can you tell I have an agenda here? :twisted:

lost_in_thought

biondino wrote:

1. Create a BBC-wide system where originating producers and talent receive royalties on material disseminated by online services including iplayer.

2. Keep licence periods for material to be used on the many BBC online, interactive and public services down to reasonable periods with no lengthy licences or buyouts in perpetuity.

3. Ensure licences do not try and exploit the originators of material by acquiring a vast raft of rights the BBC will likely never need

Can you tell I have an agenda here? :twisted:

I can tell you have an agenda... unfortunately I don't really understand quite what it is!

CiB

I'd be happy if they upped the sound quality to what they promised it would be when DAB first appeared 10+ years ago, or at least put BBC7 out in stereo. Obviously they won't as they've crammed too many stations into the multiplex, but MP2 @ 128K isn't very good. Even R3 at 192K isn't a patch on the same service on VHF.

I know this is an old argument that's been done to death over the years, and that as an argument it's over, but you asked for views. That's mine.

lost_in_thought

Also, ummm, please can we have the iplayer as a download-and-play-from-your-hard-drive set-up?

I've paid my license fee, and I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to keep copies of top gear on my hard drive.

The streaming video is a pain if you've got patchy interweb coverage.

Coriander

lost_in_thought wrote:

Also, ummm, please can we have the iplayer as a download-and-play-from-your-hard-drive set-up?

I've paid my license fee, and I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to keep copies of top gear on my hard drive.

The streaming video is a pain if you've got patchy interweb coverage.

You can do that - a friend did it on my laptop the other day to watch Wallander.

lost_in_thought

Coriander wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Also, ummm, please can we have the iplayer as a download-and-play-from-your-hard-drive set-up?

I've paid my license fee, and I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to keep copies of top gear on my hard drive.

The streaming video is a pain if you've got patchy interweb coverage.

You can do that - a friend did it on my laptop the other day to watch Wallander.

Rats. I knew I'd out myself as a muppet sooner or later... Can you keep the downloaded programmes indefinitely?

spacey99

no. they expire.

& you need the iplayer download manager

http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/h ... /installdm

lost_in_thought

See, why should they expire? I paid for those damn it.

Jamey

Digital Rights Management (DRM for short) is what causes them to expire. Everyone thinks it's a pain in the ass and there are often a lot of ways to 'circumvent' it if you spend a little time searching online. It helps to know the format of the file you're trying to strip the DRM from.

biondino

Yeah Livs, but when you go to the movies they don't give you a DVD of the film to take home; when you buy a box of cornflakes it doesn't have unlimited free refills. Why should the BBC be any different, especially when a vast amount of its income comes from the money made on wordlwide sales, video and merchandise etc. by BBC Worldwide and 2 Entertain, its commercial arms?

lost_in_thought

biondino wrote:

Yeah Livs, but when you go to the movies they don't give you a DVD of the film to take home; when you buy a box of cornflakes it doesn't have unlimited free refills. Why should the BBC be any different, especially when a vast amount of its income comes from the money made on wordlwide sales, video and merchandise etc. by BBC Worldwide and 2 Entertain, its commercial arms?

Fair play, you make a valid point. I hadn't looked at it that way.

I retract my previous statement, and would like to request top gear be put onto DVD by series.

marchant

lost_in_thought wrote:

I retract my previous statement, and would like to request top gear be put onto DVD by series.

click-me-do, cough, Bittorrent, ahem

always_tyred

Slight change of tack - but I find it interesting that the BBC's digital live streaming is basically an invitation to be prosecuted.

During the Olympics, I noted a couple of detector vans trawling the streets by the local offices. I think they knew that live streaming at work had gone through the roof.

Go onto the BBC website and see if you can find where it tells you that you need a license to watch the content.

This isn't cricket.

mattybain

Always Tyred wrote:

Slight change of tack - but I find it interesting that the BBC's digital live streaming is basically an invitation to be prosecuted.

During the Olympics, I noted a couple of detector vans trawling the streets by the local offices. I think they knew that live streaming at work had gone through the roof.

Go onto the BBC website and see if you can find where it tells you that you need a license to watch the content.

This isn't cricket.

I had this thought during the Olympics as well, not having a license it was almost impossible to go onto the BBC website legally as it would always start a live stream automatically.

As you say it just isn't cricket, to be fair I don't think it happens any more or maybe becuase there hasn't been a major sporting event since.

biondino

How do detector vans tell if you're watching the BBC through the internet, AT?

mattybain

biondino wrote:

How do detector vans tell if you're watching the BBC through the internet, AT?

They can't although presumably through the BBC and the ISP they could determine if you were watching a live stream without a licence. I wouldn't put it past them.

BTW detector vans are supposed to be a myth a ruse to make us pay our fees, see http://uk.gizmodo.com/2008/11/04/do_tv_ ... x.html#com

The reality is they just have a database, assume everyone has a telly and then send inspectors around to harass the occupants of the house until the get a licence or get prosecuted. Well that is how it seemed after we moved into our new build house.

biondino

How could they prove who was using the computer at the time it was being watched?

mattybain

biondino wrote:

How could they prove who was using the computer at the time it was being watched?

Well it would be difficult I admit, but similar to those raft of P2P "compensation" cases being sought by those scumbag lawyers Davenport Lyons.

Their argument is that whoever pays the ISP bill is responsible for the use of the internet, so if someone downloads something on your IP address you are responsible. They even argue that you have a legal obligation to protect your wifi from being misused by others.

This hasn't been tested in a UK court of law but I for one am not willing to risk it although personally I think it would have a low chance of succeeding.

always_tyred

biondino wrote:

How do detector vans tell if you're watching the BBC through the internet, AT?

Not sure. I always thought that they were detecting emissions from electrical devices which had patterns of modulation corresponding to the BBC signal. I have no clue how this works in the digital age.

Besides, they were knocking on doors. Presumably people were NOT letting them in to inspect computers.

cjw

I always wondered how this would go.....

Knock knock....

Me: Hello?
Them: Do you have a TV license?
Me: No
Them: Is that a television I can hear?
Me: No
Them: Can we come in to have a look?
Me: Do you have a search warrant ?
Them: Ummmmm ... No.
Me: OK, come back with a warrant.... bye....

Dudu

My great big whinge about all digital TV and radio broadcasters is that they don't make the most of the facilities digital broadcasting offers.

For example:

If the schedule changes at short notice why not change the digital programme guide and the bit of info about the programme, so you know why you're not seeing what you expected to?

And since you can access text while watching or listening, how about a decent preview and set of info about the programme? For example, why not details of who's appearing, who they are and the planned running order of the programme? Why not a cast list? The BBC Radio "About this programme" option is infuriating since it tells you no more than you already know.

marchant

Always Tyred wrote:

biondino wrote:

How do detector vans tell if you're watching the BBC through the internet, AT?

Not sure. I always thought that they were detecting emissions from electrical devices which had patterns of modulation corresponding to the BBC signal. I have no clue how this works in the digital age.

Besides, they were knocking on doors. Presumably people were NOT letting them in to inspect computers.

This is where the technology for the licence detector vans developed from (remembered from Peter Wright's autobiography Spycatcher)