Comments on: Watching the iPlayer Around The World: BBC, Meet VPN

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:36:53 +0000

I’ve been in Singapore for the last 2 years and have used http://www.watchuktv.co.uk, i have also used http://www.ukivpn.com both are really good for iplayer.

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By: JH

JH — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:19:41 +0000

I use a VPN solution. Was told OpenVPN was the way to go for stability, security, and speed. Found very good one here at tuvpn.com.

Have to say that while i got it mainly for protection on public wifi areas, i love the fact that while travlling i can see content from home.

Technology will always be finding uses other than what their core purpose was, and technology will equally always be breaking down geographic boundaries.

By: Tom from Fancast/Comcast

Tom from Fancast/Comcast — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:10:27 +0000

Hey Jackson,

To your point about BBC America distribution through cable, Fancast is now starting to put up full episodes of shows like Top Gear and Kitchen Nightmares that Comcast customers can watch free as part of their subscription.

http://www.fancast.com/tv-networks/BBC-America/39/main?setComcast=true

In the example of Top Gear, we are adding new episodes from season 13 as soon as they air on the linear BBC America network. Jeremy Clarkson fans can get the first two episodes from that new season available here:

http://www.fancast.com/tv/Top-Gear/97976/full-episodes?setComcast=true

Best,
Tom (from Fancast)

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:05:26 +0000

I completely agree with your comment about the vpn fees and the fact that they should be going to the BBC. I use a vpn and it is an exceptionally good service. But I'd happily pay the same money ($69 per year) to the BBC instead. I know rights have also been used as an excuse for limiting distribution to the UK. But the programming available through the iPlayer is (almost without exception) not available here in the US - ever. Not now. Not in the future and not on DVD (I appreciate a few shows like Top Gear are but I'd suggest that sort of content is less than 5% of the iPlayer output). And even then the content is usually only available for 7 days. A very short window. So this is a potential new revenue stream for both the BBC AND the rights holder. Come on just go to all the rights holders, negotiate a new agreement covering this play again window outside the UK, and then make the iPlayer available through a pay system. Who knows it might also provide some incentive for US factual programming to get better :-)

By: Iolo Jones

Iolo Jones — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:05:00 +0000

Excellent article, but a tad naive about the rights situation in the UK (and online in general)...

Even in the UK the BBC only has online rights for its programming for between seven and thirty days - the rights then revert to the content producer. The content producer will then work with a distributor to market the content internationally (BBC Worldwide is one such distributor). And that's before considering the re-transmission of sports events, format shows and feature films which have their own rights positions.

The rights owners have no clear digital route to market at present, so will almost always bundle the online rights with the broadcast rights.

However, there are a number of services which are likely to become available internationally online in the near future based on the BBC America format; these include Hulu UK, Seesaw and services based on the BBC's own Project Canvas.

In the meantime, happy geospoofing!