Summer is always slow on the CBC front, what with lockouts and vacations and all .So in lieu of interesting Ceeb news, I thought I’d look yonder at the Beeb.
Seems the BBC is now leeting people download more than 400 hours of its recent programming. From CBC Arts:
The service, launched Friday, will give viewers a choice from 70 per cent of the British broadcaster’s output, including popular programs such as EastEnders and Doctor Who. Programs from the previous week will be made available.
The service is free and is only available to people living in Britain with computers running the Microsoft XP operating system. It takes about 30 minutes to download an hour-long show. Programs will be automatically deleted after viewing or after 30 days. Copyright protection software prevents the copying of shows.
There are a number of reasons why this isn’t happening here, but a lot of it has to do with rights. There are numerous rights holders for “our” productions (actors, musicians, production companies, etc.) and the CBC would have to seek permission of each group to permit this.
We’ve apparently been negotiating for more than a year now with the folks who represent the music publishers (copyright holders) and still no agreement. This is why you don’t hear any commercial music in our podcasts.
Frustrating.
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The Beeb has been very aggressive in marketing its programming, including licensing material on DVD to be given away free with the newspapers in the UK. I bought several on ebay, and almost every one was devoid of music including the opening and closings. Several times music within, say a comedy show, was replaced by just applause, or silence.
Darn and here I was thinking I could watch Coronation Street, and keep up with the Brits for a change.
Different production company involved with Coronation Street for one thing, right?
Indeed, Corrie is on ITV.
your report on the BBC was rather a wast of your space and our time
Tod, thank you very much for this posting (John Taylor’s comment is off the mark). I especially appreciate the explanation as to why the CBC is slower in providing online access to their programs vs the BBC. I’ve been wondering why another public broadcaster can and we can’t. This librarian remain hopeful…