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06 Feb 2007
The Open Source Consortium (OSC) has slammed the BBC over plans to lock online TV viewers into Microsoft products.
The accusations come after the BBC announced that its new on-demand services will be limited to Microsoft Windows.
A report from the BBC Trust said that services will be unavailable to consumers who do not use Microsoft software or have an up-to-date version of Windows.
But the OSC believes this is anti-competitive, and would be in breach of the broadcaster's charter by using public funds to develop and promote the service.
OSC chief executive Iain Roberts said: "Our members are competing hard in a fast-moving market and winning new customers every day.
"Seeing their licence fee going to advertise one of their largest competitors is not acceptable, especially from the BBC which has a duty to be unbiased. We want the BBC to reject any moves that restrict consumer choice."
The BBC already has an agreement with Real over use of its RealPlayer software for radio broadcasting, and the announcement of a tie in with Microsoft will be a boost to the company's visibility, as the BBC is investing heavily in online TV for its worldwide audience.
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MIcrosoft now advertise on BBC
Maps broadcast on the BBC News are now bearing 'Powered by ' adverts for Microsoft! We're paying for this?!!!
Posted by: Mr A. T. Wells 20 Sep 2007
Surprise surprise
Remember the fawning Jeremy Paxman interview with Bill Gates? This is just more of the same. I wouldn't mind if I was not forced to pay a tax in the guise of a licence fee. The BBC is supposed to be a PSB, and that should mean cross-platform support across all its operations.
Posted by: David Jefferis 10 Feb 2007
BBC License Fee
I will dump my TV and stop paying the license to the BBC if this goes ahead. I pay them for a public service just like everyone else but I am deemed less important by them - unbelievable! I thought they were developing their own codecs for video and audio.
Posted by: Jonny 08 Feb 2007
Brits do this.....
There is still a chance for you to stop this. They are carrying out a public consultation one of the questions specifically asks about Microsoft lock-in. If you are a Brit and pay your TV license get over there and answer the questions.
Posted by: Matt Jones 07 Feb 2007
Sad decision
As a Mac and Linux user I'm sorely disappointed by the BBC's decision to only support Microsoft. As an American it's difficult to find unbiased news content and now that the BBC has decided to restrict access I will have to seek it elsewhere. BBC, PLEASE recant your decision to restrict your content to Windows users only.
Posted by: Adam A. 07 Feb 2007
PS3
The BBC has to understand that a lot of people will be watching VOD with a PS3: there is no WMP on a PS3 ...
Posted by: Nyssen 07 Feb 2007
You can complain here
You can complain about this obvious BBC bias at there own website http://www.bbc.co.uk/ complaints/ Just select email: send your complaint and this will start an online form. I used the General BBC tag. Go on, you know want to.
Posted by: A 07 Feb 2007
Shameful
This seems to be the very opposite of broadcasting. We should invent a new name for it, perhaps 'narrowcasting': "Let's exclude as many operating systems as we can". Surely, the BBC should be trying to support as many OSes as possible, not as few?
Posted by: David Legg 07 Feb 2007
Unbelievable!
EU, UN! Do something! This is not possible in modern world!
Posted by: dave 07 Feb 2007
Fair enough
I'm fine with this as long as they no longer require non-Microsoft users to pay for a TV license.
Posted by: myke 07 Feb 2007
Let them know this stinks in their open consultation
British people have ALREADY PAID for this content, let them know it's unnaceptable to have to pay again to access it!
Posted by: Paul Fernihough 07 Feb 2007
Microsoft lock-in
The BBC is marginalizing itself with that move. Sure, Microsoft has the biggest share NOW, but it won't last. Isn't their mission to reach ALL the population? The broadcasting field is so competitive, you would think that they would take all precautions to not lose viewers. What part of "broad", as in broadcasting, don't they understand?
Posted by: R 07 Feb 2007
This is outright wrong
There's absolutely no link in the article to any source of the claim that the BBC is going Microsoft-only. What's more, if you go to the BBC Trust webpage and read their news items, you'll see that they specifically say: "Platform-agnostic approach: As proposed, the TV catch-up service on the internet relies on Microsoft technology for the digital rights management (DRM) framework. The Trust will require the BBC Executive to adopt a platform-agnostic approach within a reasonable timeframe. This requires the BBC to develop an alternative DRM framework to enable users of other technology, for example, Apple and Linux, to access the on-demand services." The BBC are NOT going MS-only. Get your facts right.
Posted by: Dominic 07 Feb 2007
I have some feedback from Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson is the director general of the BBC. He replied to a letter I sent him via my Member of Parliament, Dari Taylor. If you would like a copy please mail me.
Posted by: Jim Gardner 07 Feb 2007
I've mentioned this to them
I emailed the BBC a few years ago regarding their non-standard video and audio streams, and that they must offer formats such as mp3 and mpeg as a minimum as they are the most easily used across all platforms. They did not respond.
Posted by: Thom Brown 07 Feb 2007
Busy Microsoft
MS have been pretty busy in England recently. Apart from the BBC they have also made a similar deal with the British Museum whereby two Leonardo da Vinci notebooks can only be seen by Vista users.
Posted by: davcefai 07 Feb 2007
BBC WILL develop platform-agnostic approach
Did anyone read the report? It contains this statement: Platform-agnostic approach: As proposed, the TV catch-up service on the internet relies on Microsoft technology for the digital rights management (DRM) framework. The Trust will require the BBC Executive to adopt a platform-agnostic approach within a reasonable timeframe. This requires the BBC to develop an alternative DRM framework to enable users of other technology, for example, Apple and Linux, to access the on-demand services.
Posted by: Maurice Stafford 06 Feb 2007
Take the survey
There is a survey on the bbc site from the trust asking your opinion- take the time to answer thoughtfully. I do not think this is a done deal IF enough people let the BBC know it is not in the publics' best interests.
Posted by: Justin 06 Feb 2007
Real vs. Windows
Trying to compare tying someone to Real vs. tying someone to Windows is completely unfair. Real is available for every major platform. If Microsoft really wants to get into the market, then they must either allow thrid parties to develop players that will work on other systems, or they must provide players that will work on other systems in a similar manor that is available on Windows. That is to say, no charging 3rd party operating systems for their player if they are going to give it away on Windows. Forcing people to use a media player that forces them to use a software platform that forces them to use a hardware platform is completely irresponsible. Being tied to simply one application is bad enough.
Posted by: John Pierson 06 Feb 2007
Various things
If they do go MS only, then I suggest non-MS users either stop paying their Licence Fee, reduce their licence fee to purchase a Windows licence, or possibly take them to court. There must be some European court that would hear the case, and we may as well take advantage of the EU...
Posted by: Johnny 06 Feb 2007
BBC slammed for Microsoft lock-in
THE bbc HAS BEEN A MICROSOFT SHOP FOR A LONG TIME, it's a pity, you'd think they would at least be neutral, I can't trust the integrity of their news services when clearly they have been bought out by M$, another media organization that's been infiltrated by Microsoft corruption. Yes, it is corruption to collude with Microsoft.
Posted by: ricardo 06 Feb 2007
Letter of Complaint
Having read your article I have written a letter of complaint to the BBC. If they get enough, they may even listen.
Posted by: Robert Jones 06 Feb 2007
BBC Trust questionnaire not decision
I don't think the BBC has made any such decision to exclusively support Microsoft alone. The BBC Trust does ask the question on their online questionnaire "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?" and it is indeed an obnoxious question - but aksing the question of the general public is not the same as taking a decision.
Posted by: C de Salis 06 Feb 2007
Same goes for Channel4
Channel 4s on demand system is the same, apparently owing to DRM issues More likely it's the easiest option for people who cannot think their way out of a wet paper bag.
Posted by: John 06 Feb 2007