Hi All
I was interested to hear about 'Hidden Histories' via postings on the Powys
list, but John's e-mail below brings up an important question.
John states that "The restriction may be related to the fact that the BBC
service is at least partly funded by the licence fees paid only by UK
residents." However, what is being provided through iPlayer is not broadcast
television, but streamed audio and video via the internet. I imagine the BBC
does this to help maintain its public profile - essential for maintaining
public support for the continuation of its programme-making activities and,
presumably also, the licence fee?
It may be that copyright agreements for performances, including the use of
music and images etc., as used in the TV programmes, is not licensed for
overseas use - however, it would appear extremely short-sighted for any
broadcaster not to include a line in modern contracts concerning the use of
streamed audio and video via the internet (a worldwide service) for the
purpose of helping promote further interest in their productions.
I hasten to add that streamed audio and video is of a much lower
presentation quality and standard - with nowhere near sufficient resolution
for adequate full-screen quality, often resulting with something visually
more akin to a series of semi-moving still images (a 'moving slide show' if
you like), with occasionally interrupted sound - than the normal high
standard expected by people watching broadcast television.
In any case there is some considerable business these days with older TV
programmes, paid for by past TV licence payers' money, being remarketed via
DVD in shops and over the internet - and this must surely provide a
significant proportion of the current funding for new TV film production
work? That is, however, provided the extraordinarily high executive salaries
and associated expense accounts (way above those of politicians when added
together), don't gobble up the sales income first - to say nothing of
'celebrity' wages, which don't seem to share the same degree of public
scrutiny: probably for very good 'commercial reasons' in respect of rival TV
companies competing for the same 'stars' and same audience viewing figures.
I remember the times when it was the quality of programme content and high
standard of editorial judgement achieved (as with eg. Bronowski's 'The
Ascent of Man' and Huw Wheldon's 'Royal Heritage' series - the latter
which
I saw being finalised at Televison Centre), which gave the BBC its edge -
both at home and overseas. In those days the BBC was a good place to work,
but the opportunities for promotion and the development of new ideas in
programme making were limited.
I can fairly claim to have suggested a technique for and having seen
implemented at BBC Pebble Mill the first regular use of 'wetgate telecine'
in television, which helped restore old and not-so-old scratched film
prints, prior to such a technique being design-built into the more recent
issue of telecine equipment. However, a health and safety/environmental
department today would be horrified at the cleaning solvent used and the
possibility of an accident occurring! No doubt today officers in such
departments would be paid very good wages and expenses for helping stem such
innovation, but then don't we now (almost) live in a virtual digital rather
than physical mechanical age?
Best regards
Clive Gardener
Tel/Fax: 020 7987 8820
www.secret-bottletop.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Ball" <john(a)jlb2005.plus.com>
To: <powys(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 8:13 AM
Subject: Re: [POWYS] Hidden Histories TV series
Howard Evans <howardevans(a)bresnan.net> wrote:
--------------------------------------------------
I was really upset to find that the hidden histories programs are not
available to those of us who reside outside the UK.
===================
Dear Howard,
There are many programmes available on the BBC website in the UK that are
not available to those visiting the website from outside the UK. I
discovered this some time ago when accessing the website from Canada.
The restriction may be related to the fact that the BBC service is at
least
partly funded by the licence fees paid only by UK residents.
Kind regards,
John
--------------------
John Ball, Brecon, Mid-Wales, UK
E-mail: john(a)jlb2005.plus.com
John's Homepage:
http://www.jlb2005.plus.com/
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http://www.jlb2005.plus.com/walespic/
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