How The Dot Commers Are Adjusting To New Jobs >>
<< Virus Writers Moving From Annoying Adolescent...
 tdicon 


Surprises

by Mike Masnick

Sun, Aug 24th 2003 9:00pm





BBC Opening Up TV Archives For Free

from the have-some-content dept

The BBC has announced that, thanks to the internet, they've decided to make large portions of their TV archives available to the public for free, as long as they're not used for commercial purposes. The article is a little unclear, since it says DVD sales of certain programs are a "lucrative income source" - so, perhaps not the entire archive will be available. Still, it's nice to see at least someone realize the power of the internet, and that opening up old content to the public isn't a horrifying idea - even if it is a publicly supported broadcaster. Update: Read Danny O'Brien's piece on why this is an even bigger deal than it seems. It has a fantastic quote that summarizes paragraphs and paragraphs running through my mind, but which I hadn't been able to simplify into such a perfect sentence: "Content distribution is free: content restriction is costly." Exactly!

5 Comments | Leave a Comment..


If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...
 

Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

  1.  

    BBC program archives

    identicon
    Hurrah, Aug 25th, 2003 @ 12:15am

    Wonderful that the BBC is opening up some of its older programs to the Net. This is especially good news for most americans, who haven't a clue about what constitutes good programming. Now maybe they'll get their eyes opened. :)

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Absolutely Fabulous

    identicon
    Pasty & Eddie, Aug 25th, 2003 @ 8:21am

    10 - 1 we don't see " Absolutely Fabulous " or any of the other money making comedies that BBC has produced ... Time shall tell ...
    But I must give MAJOR KUDO's for their forward thinking !!!!!!!

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    35mm Film of Cyprus 1962-71 - Occupied Territory

    identicon
    Roy Child, Mar 16th, 2004 @ 3:49am

    I have film and dubbed video of Famagusta c.1971

    and Makharios opening a Hotel c.1971.

    The 30th Anniversary of the invasion is in July.

    Do you think the BBC would be interested in these?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: 35mm Film of Cyprus 1962-71 - Occupied Territo

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Aug 17th, 2007 @ 5:26am

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    older programs

    identicon
    bopb Dunford, May 29th, 2009 @ 8:13am

    i would love to be able to download older programs from the bbc archives.will there be older movies there as well.i think the bbc are now getting on the ball at last.they are their for enertainment after all.and to watch and record the older programs, programs we all loved and watched every week.will bring back some happy days to us all now this cant be bad.hurry up with it,i cant wait

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Save me a cookie
  • Note: A CRLF will be replaced by a break tag (<br>), all other allowable HTML will remain intact
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>


How The Dot Commers Are Adjusting To New Jobs >>
<< Virus Writers Moving From Annoying Adolescent...
 tdicon 

A word from our Sponsors...
Follow Techdirt
Flattr rss rss

Powered by Postrank

From the Techdirt Archive...
A word from our Sponsors...

Close

Email This