NEWS: BBC and Sky agree new collaboration

So this means BBC iPlayer in Ireland now, through Sky??? Very surprising (but very welcome), never been able to access bbc iplayer before
 
So this means BBC iPlayer in Ireland now, through Sky??? Very surprising (but very welcome), never been able to access bbc iplayer before
Not necessarily. Nothing about that press release suggests it'll be available there.
 
Probably will not be because BBC would get no income from licence payers.
 
Always feel a bit reluctant to take on board any announcements from sky given their HLG 2019 promise which still hasn't happened and their other 2019 promise of BT sport through sky, also yet to happen.
 
Not necessarily. Nothing about that press release suggests it'll be available there.
except it was the from the sky UK & Ireland spokesman - that's what pricked my ears! But I admit it's stretch...!
 
I think the issue with this arrangement is that it gives preferencial treatment to SKY customers and the BBC are supposed to be catering to the UK as a whole without partiality. The BBC themselves removed most of what they appear to be now reinstating for just SKY customers. There's technically no reason why such interaction cannot be reinstated for other platforms and technically should be reinstated wholesale as opposed to limiting it to just SKY customers. The deal seems to award SKY and their customers with a lot more than it gives BBC license payers in general.
 
How does it give them preferential treatment? The iPlayer app on Q is the same as that on the NowTV box, most TVs,etc.
 
How does it give them preferential treatment? The iPlayer app on Q is the same as that on the NowTV box, most TVs,etc.


So those using Virgin Media cable get the same ability and what about those on Freeview? Yes, SKY customers are being given preferencial treatment.

The abilities being discussed will only be available via SKY and SKY's STBs and as such will only be available to SKY subscribers. Are all BBC ltcense payers getting free SKY in return? What are SKY giving to the BBC that benefits every one of the BBC's license payers or that is at least accessible by them without need of a SKY subscription?
 
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So those using Virgin Media cable get the same ability and what about those on Freeview? Yes, SKY customers are being given preferencial treatment.

The abilities being discussed will only be available via SKY and SKY's STBs and as such will only be available to SKY subscribers. Are all BBC ltcense payers getting free SKY in return? What are SKY giving to the BBC that benefits every one of the BBC's license payers or that is at least accessible by them without need of a SKY subscription?

I mean, it's a pure marketing technology. I don't consider being marketed to more effectively 'preferential treatment' and Sky will now simply have the same access to iPlayer content as everyone else, as in the back catalogue that the BBC is slowly broadening, rather than a restricted catch up service.
That, at least is my understanding of it.
The BBC don't seem to be losing anything, integrity wise. It's a trade of a content library for better market positioning.

I imagine BBC will also be looking at whether PromoSmart might have a more universal application outside of Sky, depending on the agreement.
 
Pressing the red button doesn't access iPlayer on other services. You'd simply be given access to the BBC's interactive services if pressing the red button while viewing a BBC channel via other platforms.

The red button would ordinarilly give those viewing a BBC channel access to the BBC's interactive services and not access to iPlayer. Nor do the BBC readilly allow other platforms direct access to the iPlayer via that platforms catch up service.

The BBC themselves purposefully removed such abilities and prevent platforms interacting with the iPlayer service.

The one to one customer interaction (Sky’s AdSmart) will only work on the SKY platform and is reliant upon SKY's own algorithms and software associated with their customers on their platform.
 
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The BBC is is not a commercial organisation in the UK. It shouldn't be targeting ads / trailers.
First they insisted everybody had to have an account for iPlayer, so they could offer a more personalised serviced (I do not want a personalised service), now they want to use Sky's Promo technology.

I'm afraid it makes me less inclined to support the TV licence as a funding model (which I'm usually an advocate for).

Regards,
James.
 
Couldn't agree more. The BBC should ditch the current form of licencing and allow people to choose to either opt in and pay upfront for a licence and allow others to pay per view if the want to watch their content.

I appreciate there are people who watch it (BBC) and enjoy it but personally speaking I think what they put out is garbage.

Then there's all the stuff they've produced over the years and then have the audacity to charge people for their DVDs etc... Haven't people already paid their fair share by way of licence fees?

The way people watch TV now has changed massively since the the BBCs inception, they need to catch up and change their ways and stop forcing people to pay for their drivel.

We don't all want to pay for something we don't watch just because we have the means to receive the signal.
 
I should point out that the BBC's mandate isn't to entertain. It is a public broadcasting service that is supposed to remain impartial and free from commercial or indeed state influences. This is what would be lost if the licence were to be done away with in favour of the BBC raising funds via commercial practices.

It isn't the prime time shows that make the BBC special, it is the things that cater for the minorities or simply those seeking a news source free from commercial restraints. Lose the licence and you lose this. If you don't require such services then this is no reason to suggest you shouldn't be contributing something towards it. The BBC is the envy of the world for good reason and that reason isn't Strictly Come Dancing, Doctor Who or Eastenders.

Whether or not younger people are moving towards streaming as their access point for entertainment is neither here nor there. Such services do not broadcast news and are limited when it comes to catering for minorities. They are also heavilly influenced by their dependance upon commmercial funding.
 
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I take the point that the BBC makes some programmes of minority interest but there are very rare and I believe that youtube is now a better source for such content.

Youtube video's are not as polished as broadcast programmes but often offer excellent content as they are made by people who have a good understanding of their field of interest.
 
I take the point that the BBC makes some programmes of minority interest but there are very rare and I believe that youtube is now a better source for such content.

Youtube video's are not as polished as broadcast programmes but often offer excellent content as they are made by people who have a good understanding of their field of interest.

I don’t think siting YouTube is a very convincing argument for minority interest content. The BBC is a curated and regulated broadcaster where journalists are held to account and news and other programming can be fact checked, and complaints can be raised & investigated. It also has a mandate to be accessible to all of British society, not just those who are tech savvy.

The BBC isn’t perfect and it can be argued that it has a progressive left-leaning perspective that matches the people it recruits, but its editorial content is leagues better than YouTube which is like the wild-west in comparison, and most content (for anyone over the age of 12) is junk.

Of course there are exceptions, and some YouTube content is factually correct and well made, but it’s a tiny drop in the ocean compared with the dross it generally serves up. The lack of transparency when it comes to influencers and sponsored content is just dreadful.

Giving anti-vaccination and flat-earth believes equal and unrestricted platform access doesn’t help society or fulfil the public service remit that the BBC should be robustly upholding.

The problem is, the BBC is becoming ever more focused on rating and trying to compete with commercial broadcasters whom already serve the mainstream audience very well.

The BBC should be doing the type of programmes that a commercial organisation wouldn’t or couldn’t fund.

The argument shouldn’t be about what an individual finds interesting, but what they consider is beneficial to society as a whole.

This is why I’m broadly in favour of keeping the current funding model. But I do think some reforms within the BBC are necessary.

Regards,
James.
 
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So this means BBC iPlayer in Ireland now, through Sky??? Very surprising (but very welcome), never been able to access bbc iplayer before
Not necessarily. Nothing about that press release suggests it'll be available there.
except it was the from the sky UK & Ireland spokesman - that's what pricked my ears! But I admit it's stretch...!
I’m not seeing it here in Ireland anyway.
 
Note that EDUCATION is listed before ENTERTAINMENT. It has to be said that some of the educational content does actually also serve the premise of also being entertaining. For example, much of the content currently originating from the Open University that now airs on the BBC. This isn't however strictly speaking educational in the same manner that the older OU content used to be and is actually commissioned by the BBC as oposed to the Open University using the BBC to air it. You no longer see the bearded guys from the seventies wearing flares, kipper ties and scribbling on blackboards necause the OU can deliver its own content via the internet or on DVD directly to their students and are no longer reliant on the BBC to do this for them.


  • The Royal Charter establishes the general public service obligation of BBC, namely to provide sound and television broadcasting programmes of information, education and entertainment services (whether by analogue or digital means) as public services. In addition, the Royal Charter requires BBC to remain under constant and effective review from outside, including by public meetings and seminars.


What is clear is that whether it be educational or intended to entertain, it has to be delivered as a public service.

  • The Agreement sets out more detailed public services and content obligations required of BBC. For example -
    • (a) Clause 3 provides that BBC's services shall respect high general standards, particularly regarding their content, quality and editorial integrity, and offering of a wide range of subject matter meeting the needs and interests of audiences.
    • (b) Clause 5 elaborates on the above-mentioned programme standards, providing that BBC should do all it can to ensure that its services -
    • (i) provide properly balanced services consisting of a wide range of subject matter;
      • (ii) serve the tastes and needs of different audiences;
      • (iii) treat controversial subjects with due accuracy and impartiality;
      • (iv) do not contain abusive treatment of religious views;
      • (v) do not include anything which offends against good taste or decency, or encourages/incites crime or leads to disorder; and
      • (vi) are not offensive to public feeling.
 
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Note that EDUCATION is listed before ENTERTAINMENT.
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Jeezo - Did you have chips and fish for your dinner?
 
Did the Fish shop re[eatedly list fish on their menu and not mention chips again?

The BBC's mandate only mentions "entertain" once and then goes on to state its commitments to the other services it provides.


Mission, values and public purposes
The Royal Charter states that the BBC’s object is “the fulfilment of its Mission and the promotion of its Public Purposes”
Our mission is "to act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain".

The Charter also sets out our five public purposes:

1. To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them

The BBC should provide duly accurate and impartial news, current affairs and factual programming to build people’s understanding of all parts of the United Kingdom and of the wider world. Its content should be provided to the highest editorial standards. It should offer a range and depth of analysis and content not widely available from other United Kingdom news providers, using the highest calibre presenters and journalists, and championing freedom of expression, so that all audiences can engage fully with major local, regional, national, United Kingdom and global issues and participate in the democratic process, at all levels, as active and informed citizens.

2. To support learning for people of all ages

The BBC should help everyone learn about different subjects in ways they will find accessible, engaging, inspiring and challenging. The BBC should provide specialist educational content to help support learning for children and teenagers across the United Kingdom. It should encourage people to explore new subjects and participate in new activities through partnerships with educational, sporting and cultural institutions.

3. To show the most creative, highest quality and distinctive output and services

The BBC should provide high-quality output in many different genres and across a range of services and platforms which sets the standard in the United Kingdom and internationally. Its services should be distinctive from those provided elsewhere and should take creative risks, even if not all succeed, in order to develop fresh approaches and innovative content.

4. To reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions and, in doing so, support the creative economy across the United Kingdom

The BBC should reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom both in its output and services. In doing so, the BBC should accurately and authentically represent and portray the lives of the people of the United Kingdom today, and raise awareness of the different cultures and alternative viewpoints that make up its society. It should ensure that it provides output and services that meet the needs of the United Kingdom’s nations, regions and communities. The BBC should bring people together for shared experiences and help contribute to the social cohesion and wellbeing of the United Kingdom. In commissioning and delivering output the BBC should invest in the creative economies of each of the nations and contribute to their development.

5. To reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world

The BBC should provide high-quality news coverage to international audiences, firmly based on British values of accuracy, impartiality, and fairness. Its international services should put the United Kingdom in a world context, aiding understanding of the United Kingdom as a whole, including its nations and regions where appropriate. It should ensure that it produces output and services which will be enjoyed by people in the United Kingdom and globally.


There's one mention of the word "entertain" within the entire mission statement.



The fact of the matter is that if some were to get there way then the BBC would drop all comitments to entertainment in order to be able to afford its other commitments. The current conservative government have already suggested that this is the way that they want the BBC to go, but the Tory's don't like and never have liked the BBC anyway based upon the fact that they hate not being able to control it. The upcoming removal of the free licence for pensioners stands testament to this. It is the government who used to pay for it and it is the government that is removing this consession for pensioners, the BBC. The conservatives keep insisting that it is the BBC that is at fault and or to blame.




Besides which, what the hell have fish and chips to do with anything? You can always trust the members of this board to come up with the strangest of analogies. It says Boots the chemists on the sides of buses, but I'd like to see you try get a prescription fulfilled by the driver. Do you ask the man behind the counter at the chip shop what TV channel you should watch?
 
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The point is that whilst Reith deliberately set the order of the mission according to his thoughts it was criticised (and supported) from that day on. Here we are doing the same. It was just one man's opinion - two if we presumably count you?

Some people prefer chips, some fish but fish & chips is the order in our lexicon just like the beeb charter. No different.

FWIW, IMHO the institution does a lot of things well and a great many not so. For whatever they do I'd like to see them funded by taxation and scrap the unenforceable and mass non-payed TV license.
 

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