Posts by jxp

The BBC have stopped any future 3D productions. I believe this Dr Who special is the last programme to be made in 3D.

Re: Still no 5V @1A output?

Pretty sure this exists and is called MHL (USB -> HDMI).

I'm not sure if this is a proprietary extension to HDMI or part of the spec.

Re: I want to like the BBC

OK, I'll bite.

Firstly no-one is forced to pay for the BBC. You are completely free to not have a Television. Some people I know have no TV, they don't seem either culturally deprived or overjoyed at their freedom. It's not a big deal.

Secondly the TV license pays for a service of TV channels, radio channels, catch up service and websites.

When you pay the fee you can access the services legally. The channels are still there whenever you want to watch them.

I am pretty sure the iPlayer time restrictions are to pacify commercial rivals.

I would agree that the BBC should be better at making archive material more widely available.

However the people involved in this material (actors, writers etc.) are due fees whenever their material is shown.

Should the BBC produce less new material to cover these fees from the TV license?

How popular are more repeats (archive material) at the expense of new content?

How should the content be released?

Would the BBC invoke costs for curating/preparing such a release?

I think the most reasonable thing BBC could do for archive material is;

1. have a regular archive slot (probably on BBC4) - they do show some archive material already

2. Allow older content (5 years+) to be downloaded or streamed for a small fee (99p per episode) via iTunes/Amazon/YouView/wherever

3. Setup commercial channels to show archive material (UKTV)

Re: Freeview is a public service

You are of course talking about a government (and certainly not the first) that has long since given up on the concept of public service.

All that matters now are budgets and targets (and maybe the occasional back-hander now/job later on). The public and the benefit of society be damned.

Not yet IMO

YouView is a step in the right direction but it's not there yet.

IMO to be truly compelling YouView needs to offer;

1. IPTV downloading. Its mentioned in the spec but not yet implemented. Downloading gets over the problem of slow or erratic broadband.

2. Online portal. They really need the reverse EPG on a website, even if each programme just links to the relevant iPlayer, 4od page. I know they are targetting the TV but this would build the brand image and be fairly simple and useful

3. Tablet apps. They also need to create a YouView client (online and downloading) for tablets. A lot of IPTV is low (video) quality. It doesn't need to be on a 42" plasma, an iPad or Nexus tablet would work just fine.

4. A cheap box (£50 or less) that is YouView IPTV only. I have enough Freeview boxes/TVs but I can't watch itvPlayer, 4od or Demand 5 on my smart TV. Maybe add an SD or USB slot for download storage

Re: Governments aren't serious about combatting tax avoidance

Presumably you would need to increase your margins and the tax rate would be less.

20% tax on profits would probably be equivalent to 2% tax on earnings.