There were many mac/*nix users out there that were a little disapointed to learn that our license fee was being used to build and support a Microsoft only software app for 7 day on demand TV catchup, the BBC iPlayer. Our optimism for a cross-platform system was somewhat bouyed by this bbc article, in which Mr Highfield stated

The BBC’s proposed iPlayer service, offering catch-up TV via the web and cable TV, would be re-engineered to work with Apple Macs.

So, they had listened to the comments, questionairre feedback and the 10 downing Street epetition then? I wonder. Hmm, let me see there is a new article today saying that the BBC Trust has approved the BBC iPlayer. Little mention of mac/*nix in that article though. Lets dig a little deeper into the report. Arh, right then, theres the little gem I was looking for:

seven-day catch-up television over the internet, which relies on digital rights management licensing provided by Microsoft, was required to be made available to users of Apple and Linux operating systems within a reasonable timeframe, which the Trust proposed should be two years

TWO YEARS!?! You have got to be kidding me. This is unacceptable. Full stop. If a suitable DRM system is not in place for a cross-platform system, then the whole iPlayer needs to be delayed until such time as a solution is found. What sort of competetive edge is this going to give Microsoft based systems, if for two years a user sees the iPlayer is only available in Windows??

Boo to the beeb.
[tags]bbc,iplayer,mac,apple,linux,drm[/tags]

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