Re: [Fsfe-uk] BBC News partnership with Microsoft

[Dave Crossland]

Hi,

Thought this response from my friend might be of interest to the list
- reproduced with permission.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Miglia
Date: 01-Oct-2006 21:49
Subject: Re: [Fsfe-uk] BBC News partnership with Microsoft

Hi,

I am gravely concerned that the BBC has been in effect tricked by
Microsoft into using their DRM on 95% market share arguments. Clearly
Microshaft want to gain a foothold given Apple is wiping the floor
with them. But unless the BBC has stipulated that Microsoft support
_all_ platforms, then I am paying a license fee for content I'm
locked out of. This is unacceptable. The BBC's correct approach
should be DRM-free content with cross-platform codecs. Unpatented
codecs would be ideal, but anything that VLC will playback will do.

Right now, I'm paying a license fee even though I don't have a telly
because I believe in the BBC model - that is, I believe Enlightenment
values in mass media can be safeguarded through public subscription
like the BBC license fee, because it allows a broadcaster to take
risks without pandering to advertisers or the lowest common
denominator. I even accept that much of my license fee, even if I had
a telly, would go on shit I'd never watch - the BBC has to cater to
all audience segments, including morons who like watching sport and
reality TV. But If the BBC is going to cut me off IP TV unless I
abandon my preferred computing platform and buy Windows Vista, they
can, bluntly, fuck right off. This is like if terrestrial broadcast
TV required me to buy Sony tellies only, and my cheap Samsung telly
didn't work. Not on.

Cheers

Miglia

--
Regards,
Dave