Re: "iPlayer loophole" to close
 

But the suggestion is that the licence fee payer will be getting it from them. While in the UK and while abroad.

Will they be policing how much time a licence fee payer spends abroad? Or perhaps limit the time for which this 'code' may be used? ;)

Re: "iPlayer loophole" to close
 

Yay...someone else likes This is England. Fantastic TV. :thumbsup:

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I see it as a way for people to access the media that they have already paid for, rather than creating new sales. Not a lawyer, but assume that is how the law and licenses will see it too, otherwise I dont suppose it would be being proposed.

Re: "iPlayer loophole" to close
 

I don't disagree. My puzzle is that I don't see it changing much. They will continue to make stuff available via iPlayer for viewing outside of the UK.

Those outside the UK will either qualify to view as licence fee payers or will use illicit means to view, often involving money going to 3rd party providers.

That may be illegal or not. If it's illegal, not only does there seem no concern about it, the policy encourages it or at least makes it more likely. If it's legal then people will pay money to access the service because the BBC intends to allow only licence fee payers to view directly.

At the same time as missing out on a source of income, they are spending money to bring this about and all while it has no effect whatsoever on the general issue of making BBC TV available for viewing abroad.

I can only see one reason for not running an overseas subscription and that is that for the fee to be attractive it has to be so low that the cost of collecting it exceeds the income.

I find that impossible to believe but even if it were true, why then spend the extra on whatever system is to be in place that will block access for all but licence fee payers and those who will still get around it?

It's not new sales, it's not broadcasting rights. It looks stupid. Can it be?

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I just use iplayer for radio- does anyone know whether this will be affected?

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Yes it looks like the BBC have no access to the Licence Fee database so there is no immediate threat. This article talks about proposed EU-wide copyright rule changes which will affect all European OTA broadcasters with streaming services:-

Brits to get access to BBC iPlayer and Sky Go on holiday as EU changes copyright rules - Telegraph

Re: "iPlayer loophole" to close
 

Probably business as usual. Go by UK IP address, but use a license code if not using a UK IP, so no change to how you access it with VPN/Smart DNS.

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For everyone saying they'd pay for iPlayer abroad... BBC tried and it was unsuccessful: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32718259

Also to anyone using Hola for their VPN... Don't. http://britishexpats.com/forum/maple...g-hola-859306/

I'm generally assuming that as roadblocks are put up that people will find workarounds... And for those who watch specific programs, I assume that if BBC were successful in blocking overseas users, it would just be back to downloading.

The cable companies are fighting a losing battle...

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Probably because:

• It wasn't well advertised (who knew?)
• It was an app rather than your basic on-line service
• It was Apple only
• It not the same service as the UK version - the UK version being what we all want as shown by so many of us finding ways around it.

From the link:
I confess I originally read that last part as it may have been inferior but it may have been "better" in that it had old stuff in addition to new rather than instead of some new stuff.

But then if the appeal for folk abroad is accessing current BBC, paying for something that includes a ton of old stuff - possibly already held (I already have complete Fawlty Towers on dvd) but easily available on youtube and a ton of other resources free, why pay for it?

Doomed to failure if you ask me. Maybe that was the plan? :rofl:

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I use Scottish ITV cos they dont have ads. I gave them Holyrood's post code, and it worked.

I would doubt very much the beeb will do this and if they do someone will break it.

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Mine is one in Tower Hamlets that I was told will work. To be honest though, the ITV player doesn't have a lot of what I want to watch. A lot of scripted reality dreck.

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I know it wasn't quite the same, but was just pointing out that they have tried a paid model and they had to pull it. Often they get ridiculous pressure from the cable companies as they don't want the competition, or in some cases, they have previously signed exclusivity agreements so content can't be offered elsewhere (for example, Netflix Canada can't get any TV Shows that have exclusivity agreements with the Canadian broadcasters - that's why Netflix USA has so many TV shows).

I just assume that there will almost always be a way around the blocks... until the providers come up with a decent way to offer content... I think people haev proven they aren't against paying for it, they're just against paying stupid amounts for sub-par service/content!

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But, uh, seems no-one knew they had one until they shut it down. I'd certainly never heard of it.

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I'd heard of it, but it was half arsed. If they are going to do it, they need to do it properly.

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You mean BBC Canada said to the BBC Iplayer folks 'hey we have the Canadian exclusivity on 10 year old episodes of "Homes under the Hammer" "Bargain Hunt" and "Escape to the Country" ...don't you dare offer those via BBC Iplayer in Canada.:thumbsup::thumbsup: