feeling listless

TV Good piece from The Guardian speculating on how the BBC's new vision of total access will be accomplished. As well as the inevitable streaming, they're also considering a Napster/Kazaa model in which programmes can be swapped about. At the end though there is a statement which doesn't totally ring true.

"And it would be the BBC as it was always supposed to be. BBC material is supposed to be free to use and download. After all, you've already paid for it. It belongs to you, to do with as you wish."

To which a knee jerk reaction is -- if you live in the UK and have to buy a tv licence. One of the issues BBCi is encountering are commercial companies from outside the UK quietly seething because this publicly funded organisation in a completely different country is taking hits away from them. Within the UK, some are complaining that the service, which the British are paying for is being used globally. I have no issue with that. I'm happy to be funding something which anyone online can use -- it's a symbol of the innovations which have taken place in this country over the years, and of the British way of doing things (making a change from the American way). There will be others who feel the same. But does this goodwill stretch to the television end, especially as the medium is to be the internet, accessible globally. Again, I've a roughly similar reaction. But some are sure to be asking 'Why should an American be free to watch a tv show I paid for? If they're going to be looking out our 'stuff' a contribution would be nice'. Tricky regulation, but I can forsee a subscription service for people outside the UK (which I believe can be determined from IP addresses). Suddenly, the BBC has become an even more global property. Perhaps Colin Welland will finally be proved right, "The British are coming."