An open, more distinctive BBC

bbc.co.uk

2 points·paublyrne··6 comments

I suspect that were they to open up access to the iPlayer for non UK users and charge a fee in the region of Netflix's, the Beeb would fix their funding crisis. And as they would circumvent advertising concerns, there would be no threat to their impartiality.

I feel that were the UK to lose the BBC because of Hawkish government ministers who are ideologically opposed to public service broadcasting that values quality above commerce, than the loss will be not just theirs but the world's.

I would be very sorry to lose the BBC World service.

I suspect opening up iPlayer would be licensing hell. Especially for past content, but also for new productions. Which (IMHO) is a stupid issue, but a real one.

You're right I'd forgotten about that. I wonder would they make more from selling the iPlayer than licensing internationally ...

For a lot of programmes I'd assume so, where most of the content is produced for the programme and only music and maybe some short archival clips or pictures are licensed. For stuff that is bought externally or is already licensed to other channels abroad, it probably is more difficult.

The BBC did launch a "global iPlayer" some years ago - they actually closed it just recently.

hmmm.. Last time they claimed to modernize the BBC, they ended up more populist than ever, usually at the expense of quality information.

I am dubious.

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