Oh botheration

[owl]

The latest governmental idiocy: Proposing that ISPs police illegal file sharing.

Big business throws its weight about again.

Anyone with half a brain can see what will happen; the ISPs will put up their prices to cover costs, penalising all internet users, and the file-sharers will just get more clever and find a way around it. Also, Y HALO THAR DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998. It's like asking the Post Office to open every letter to make sure they are all legal.

Ok, I admit I'm not quite on the side of the angels; I do download a couple of American programmes, because the wait for them to go to DVD id too long and we can't afford Sky and the terrestrials don't carry them. But if the channels would put up a streamed episode or something, I wouldn't do it. The Beeb has the right idea with their making the unmissable unmissable thing. (BTW, is there anything to stop one from watching every single programe as soon as they put it up, thus removing the need for a TV licence?)

Comments

[white_hart]

I think that my brother, who doesn't have a TV, is using the iPlayer to watch everything he would otherwise have missed (so that'll be Torchwood and David Attenborough, then). Obviously the downside is that you have to watch on a computer rather than a proper TV, but if there's only one of you then that's hardly a problem.

[owl]

I actually watch more TV in the house that doesn't have a TV than the one that does.

[yubsie]

Make that streamed episodes that NON-AMERICANS CAN WATCH GRR

[owl]

Yeah, and American TV is ad-funded so they don't have the licencing issue the BBC has, there's no reason that they shouldn't make it available outside the US.

[yubsie]

Especially since there are unskippable commercials in the streaming video. EPIC FAIL. :p

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

I awaiting the day someone gets done for not having a TV licence or even a Telly but is watching BBC programmes over the iPlayer.

[owl]

Well, I looked at the terms of use and they don't seem to say that you need a licence. And we do have one, just not in ths house...