The BBC's announcement of a video download service for broadband users should be a cause for celebration. But their new interactive Media Player (iMP) carries a sting which could have implications far beyond this project. For a bit of background read the Guardian article BBC invests in a world of endless repeats and then pop over to the BBC press release where we find the following statement:
“iMP could just be the iTunes for the broadcast industry, enabling our audience to access our TV and radio programmes on their terms - anytime, any place, any how - Martini Media.”
Now the above is a bit confusing. Is iMP for the broadcast industry or the audience? Whose terms? The broadcast industry or the audience's?
And are new restrictions in iMP being promoted as advances? For example the press release states:
“The BBC's interactive media player (iMP) is a new application in development which will allow users to download tv and radio programmes from bbc.co.uk to their PC or laptop and watch or listen to them for seven days after the transmission date.”
But the BBC's current media player (a front end to RealPlayer) already allows us to listen to radio programmes, so what's new? Ahh … does the following quote provide us with the answer?
“The pilot will use digital rights management software to delete programmes seven days after the programme has aired on TV and users will no longer be able to watch it. DRM also prevents users emailing the files to other computer users or sharing it via disc.”
So there you have it … the self destroying equivalent of the video or audio tape is the improvement. You will watch or listen within 7 days … none of this nasty time-shifting beyond the permitted period for us. Now let's think about the potential implications of this.
Let's imagine that over the last twenty years of so you've got used to recording television programmes using your video tape recorder. You can watch and rewatch these programmes when you like. How would you like it if you've set the VTR (or the modern equivalents the PVR/DVDR) to record a few episodes of your favourite soap/documentary programme (or whatever) whilst you were on holiday but your VTR decides to delete a few of these recordings because you've gone beyond an arbitrary seven day period. You wouldn't be happy would you?
But this is exactly what this work-in-progress, the BBC iMP is apparently going to do. The Beeb is giving with one hand but taking away with another.
The iMP proposal has implications way beyond the BBC trial. As the internet grows in importance as a means of media distribution, if we are not careful users will find themselves using services and devices which are more, not less, restrictive than what we are currently used to. Ironically, unless we straighten out our thinking the net result will be an increase, not a decrease, in piracy and other illegal activity as users and developers move to cirucumvent such restrictions on their former freedoms.
The BBC confuses me. On the one hand we have the excellent podcast trial where certain worthy radio programmes (no music here) allow you to download in seconds what would otherwise take you 30-60 minutes to listen to live (or record). Great! This is an affordance. The quality of my life has improved in some small way as a result. But video, now that's a different matter … high value stuff here … public can't be trusted … might actually share with each other …. even email it to friends and colleagues overseas … might destroy franchizing and scheduling … nasty, nasty, nasty … get control … what's the solution? … I know! … a timed self destruct and we are back in control.
The problem is the apparent solution is going to really annoy your customers … you know what I mean? … the ones who pay the licence fees. It's a bit like Sony's Librie e-book where you're meant to 'rent' your book from the approved suppliers and you've only got a certain time to read it because it going to be 'disabled' if you don't. The last time I looked the paper-based books I purchased or borrowed are still prepared to let me read them, even years after the initial purchase or borrow.
Now I understand why the BBC feels it needs to go down this road. The DRM system helps provide rights holders with the illusion that their material is 'safe' and ensures that there's enough going into the archive to make it worthwhile for consumers to consume. But let's not kid ourselves, what we're looking at here is a model which puts the broadcasters back in control. Let me repeat the earlier quote:
“iMP could just be the iTunes for the broadcast industry, enabling our audience to access our TV and radio programmes on their terms - anytime, any place, any how - Martini Media.”
'iTunes for the broadcast industry' … yes for the broadcast industry … 'enabling our audience to access our TV and radio programmes on their terms - anytime, any place, any how - Martini Media' … absolutely not.
I leave you with this happy thought. Fast forward 10 years to the point when the BBC is renegotiating its charter. It's not difficult to imagine that by then the primary means of dissemination is no longer the terrestial broadcast system at all but is a variant on the iMP distribution model. Still got that old video recorder in the attic? Turn it on just to remind yourself what the old days used to be like:)
Further reading
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/askbruce/articles/bbc.co.uk/imp_1.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/broadband/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/04_april/14/pod.shtml
