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BBC Opening Up TV Archives For Free

Surprises

from the have-some-content dept

Sun, Aug 24th 2003 9:00pm — Mike Masnick
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!
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  • identicon
    Hurrah, 25 Aug 2003 @ 12:15am

    BBC program archives

    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. :)

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

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

    Absolutely Fabulous

    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 !!!!!!!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

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

    35mm Film of Cyprus 1962-71 - Occupied Territory

    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?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

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

    older programs

    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

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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