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bbc red button
Geordielaad
Posts: 141
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Does anyone know how, when I went to press the red button on bbc1 to watch the Olympic swimming trials all I got was the bbc iPlayer? Is it something to do with being with Virgin?
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Although we've had the short straw since Tivo came out, they are finally launching all singing all dancing new BBCi red button stuff on Tivo next month. For the Olympics we'll have 24 HD streams of coverage!
virgin article
EDIT - it was this thread:
forum link
Either way, I'm not sure how this fits in with the BBC having to reduce the number of red button streams to just one?
Ian.
Or is it the case that although the number of broadcast streams will be reduced to one, Tivo will be able to deliver multiple Online streams via the App?
That's all very well if you're in a cabled area or your internet is fast enough to receive such streams. What are the rest of us meant to do? I expect the BBC's answer is 'tough cheddar'.
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/11/12/bbc-red-button-costs-are-disproportionately-high/
Of course, had the Licence Fee not been frozen, there might have been some room for manoeuvre.
Another article:
http://m.paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-bbc-red-button-underperforms-websites-and-must-cut-costs/
I'm not against the license fee, but we're going to be paying for these services that we cannot yet receive. It is not the BBC's fault that broadband speeds are not up to scratch, but they need to acknowledge that these online streams will not be accessible to all.
Ironically, maybe it's fortuitous that the BBC is having to spend some of its Licence Fee on rolling out fast broadband:
http://www.silicon.com/technology/networks/2010/10/20/bbc-licence-fee-to-help-fund-superfast-broadband-rollouts-39746520/
Perhaps the BBC should add a TV channel for their Red button services.
Better not, come to think of it. They would be accused of Empire Building
Or perhaps the Government should be using far more taxpayer money to install that infrastructure?
Or perhaps it all went wrong when BT was privatised (and when shareholder dividends became more important that looking to the future and investing in that future)?
Oh, I agree that the oft-quoted "digital divide" is a social and economic issue, but in all fairness, that is something that affects people in all areas of their life, especially when the Government is seeking to get more people to do Government business online. In short, it is becoming more of a social problem for the Government, rather than one restricted to the BBC (or Channel 4, or ITV, or any other content provider).
Moving away from universal services to web-based ones is reducing the universality of services.
Do you actually support that?
I'm not sure what the solution would be. Presumably no-one would suggest the BBC scrap their website because some people might not have the internet.
I do not support that no - we all pay the same so should receive the same.
My point was more that if the service is removed, the BBC are criticsed, if they had additional channels to make the service universal, they would be criticised, and by having a reduced service and also by relying on the internet, they are criticised so they cannot really win. They would have been criticised had they not put their HD channels up too (we just have to look at the Channel 5 HD thread to get an idea).
I think in terms of what the put on the Red Button, they are making the best of the position they are in - the mainstream programs go on to the TV's with extras on the Red Button to minimise what people lose out. That said, they do not always get it right.
Well, do you support the BBC spending money on less-efficient distribution channel (as identified by the BBC Trust)?
Do you support the findings (and instructions) of the BBC Trust in this regard?
BTW, I think that the HD mux was not of the BBC's choosing.
Indeed, is it not part of the BBC's Charter, as one of its Public Purposes, that they promote new technologies?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/whoweare/publicpurposes/communication.html
I'm sure many people could identify areas where the BBC has wasted money. Has the BBC Trust picked up on any such instances though? The red button service is actually useful in my opinion, not a waste of money.
Perhaps you should address your concerns to the BBC Trust then:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/contact/index.shtml
Did they not have 2 services on Freeview - 301/2? Now only 301.
BBC Red Button Changes on Freeview - BBC Website (October 2009)
* My bold highlighting
Given there is usually one stream 301 for most content and 303 for CBeebies games, I reckon it is still a good service. Come the Olympics Red Button and other LCNS will cover the Olympics.