BBC content only for MS users?

[moodel]

The BBC is considering making its content available for Microsoft users exclusively.

Here is a question from a BBC Public Value Survey concerning proposed new Internet services:

How important is it that the proposed seven-day catch-up service over the internet is available to consumers who are not using Microsoft software?

My answer as a professional employed by IBM -

It is of paramount importance that non MS users have access to the services being proposed.

Globally there is a huge home and commercial user base that use Linux and Unix as their desktop operating systems.

In many 3rd world countries Linux/Unix is free and widely available and therefore is the operating system of choice for many.

Your might be thinking that as a person living in another country and not using the BBC website that perhaps it is not important for you to complete this survey.

However if/when the BBC implement this it will hopefully set a trend that other broadcast companies around the world will emulate.

Please, as Linux/Unix users, stand united and partake in the survey and spread the word to all Linux/Unix forums that you frequent

This is not about whether Linux/Unix OS' are better or worse than MS, its about fairness and non discrimination.

Survey -> BBC Public Value Survey

[Goeroeboeroe]

Re: BBC content only for MS users?

Thanks. I posted your message on a Dutch ubuntu-forum and in a newsgroup. Hope a lot of people will partake in the survey.

Peter

[psb154]

Re: BBC content only for MS users?

The BBC is a public service for Britain and receives a massive amount
of money from the British public annually via something called the
'Annual Television Licence'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/licencefee/

By contrast all other broadcasting companies in Britain, radio and
television, have to generate their own income through advertising.

It is estimated that the BBC currently receive:

4 billion pounds annually.

(6 billion euros)
(8 billion US dollars)

In Britain, whenever a television-receiver is installed in a building,
regardless of whether the building or the television is owned or
rented, a new 'Annual Television Licence' has to be purchased.

It gets complicated when more than one person rents a building but
generally it is a lot less hassle to simply purchase another 'Annual
Television Licence'. Failure to do so could land you in prison!

The BBC's income is perpetually increasing.

The BBC also sell television shows to other television networks as
well as merchandise.

That amount of cash gives the BBC an equally massive amount of power.

A lot of people receive an income from the BBC so the BBC has a lot of
advocates.

The BBC own the microphone! They can switch it off if they don't like
what you are saying. Any so-called debate about the BBC's lack of
openness, regarding their income, spending and power is always
debated on a forum organised by the BBC and is comically bias.

The BBC recently 'did deals' with Microsoft.

See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5390000.stm

If the BBC are serious about delivering television programs to
Britain's diverse population then they should invest money developing
Internet services that benefit all, not just those who pay for
Microsoft software.

Do the BBC believe that by making their television programs available
via a Microsoft streaming video format, then people will not make
copies?

The fact is:
If something can be seen and heard then it can be copied. If something
is digital then it can be copied. Making the video available via
Microsoft proprietary formats is unlikely to prevent copying.

The bottom line is:
There is a massive financial stream constantly flowing into the
BBC. Lots of powerful people tap that money-stream. The BBC will
continue to do whatever it bloody wants!


PS.

If my post appears a little too angry and inappropriate please
feel free to remove it, I will not be offended.

I am a Brit and I refuse to own a television *mainly* because of the
absurdness of the BBC's 'Annual Television Licence'.

Refusing to own a television and therefore not paying the fee means
that I am harassed annually and threatened with court action even
though I am not breaking the law.

Those who do not pay the licence fee have to let BBC Television
Detectors (people) into their houses in order to prove that they do not
own a television. I am not joking unfortunately.

In my opinion the BBC is an old idea from when the British Empire was
still forcing the poor to work for loaves of bread in order to keep
the wealthy and powerful, wealthy and powerful.