By Will Sturgeon, 25 November 2005 16:20
NEWS
The controller of BBC2 has said he intends to make the channel the first mainstream TV station to broadcast via broadband.
Roly Keating's announcement is very much in keeping with the BBC's broader ethos of a move to emerging forms of broadcasting content a charge led by Ashley Highfield, a silicon.com Agenda Setter and the Beeb's director of new media and technology.
A pilot of the broadband service, pencilled in for 2006, will run concurrently with further trials of the MyBBCPlayer technology which will enable viewers to download and watch BBC content on demand.
The broadband incarnation of BBC2 looks set to offer a mix of streamed media and downloads.
The BBC website quotes Keating saying: "A broadband channel could of course offer simulcast programming [broadcasting simultaneously on multiple media] and the kind of comprehensive catch-up currently being piloted in the BBC Player tests.
"But there's more to it than that and you'll see our first steps on this journey next year. Whatever the broadband revolution means for audiences and channels in the future, we intend to be there, in the front line."
In related news, the BBC today announced that Radio 1 is to trial Bluetooth broadcasting this weekend for attendees at Chart Show Live at The Shepherds Bush Empire, an event which will feature artists such as Charlotte Church and McFly.
Visitors will be able to download media onto their mobile phones including interviews, backstage photos and video content.
Daniel Heaf, interactive editor of Radio 1, said in a press release: "Radio 1 recognises the increased importance of delivering its content to a young audience on mobile platforms. I see this as one small part of our digital future."
Comments
There are 8 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
The sooner ALL MEDIA goes Broadband the better. Already the kids keep to their rooms on their PS2s. We could rent out the Living Rooms as storage sometimes.
I thought about getting a large wall TV but having the kids keep themselves to themselves has actually made them decide to get out the old Board games occasionally and unify as a family.
Everyone has a right to live their life in their own way.
2. Vladimere
Someone please tell Roly that he is too late. Russian and Ukraine TV alreay broadcast via broadband.
3. W.S.becket
If the BBC is 'going mad for Broadband' does this mean that a licence-fee is going to be raised for having a PC. If so, I would rather not have BBC broadband.
4. W.S.becket
If the BBC is 'going mad for Broadband' does this mean that a licence-fee is going to be raised for having a PC. If so, I would rather not have BBC broadband.
5. Terry Carlin
Hats off to the BBC.
Its good to see them showing a lead compared to the huge mess the Americans are making of the issue.
6. godric beresford-jones
According to The Communications ( television Licencing ) Regulations 2004,
as soon as a broadcast television programme is made available on the internet at the same time as it is transmitted, all computers equipt to recieve it are classed as TV sets and come under the control of the TV licencing authority.
Either live internet broadcasting by UK TV organisations should be stopped or the sections of the regulations should be repealed. Otherwise thousands will become liable for a TV licence for just having a pc with email.
How MAD can it get.
Tell me I am wrong!
7. Joe PublicLicencePayer
This is great news.
The advertising and subscription revenue that they will no doubt receive from abroad should enable them to reduce the licence fee for the rest of us.
It will make a change from UK licence payers subsidising those abroad who listen to BBC radio on-line.
8. James Button
Now all most of the country needs is actual 8Mb broadband,
Not 3 pence a minute for the up to 8Mb/sec connection (Well occasionally peaking to an 'instantaneous' 1Mb) whhatever upper limit is in the contract you are paying for.
And not limited to 1Gbytes a month,
Or - if you truly have and get downloaded TV @ 8Mb, 1250 seconds. (6 minutes? and for only £10?)