BBC's plea for anti-piracy measures on Freeview is turned down

chris

Ofcom has rejected the BBC's request to introduce anti-piracy technology to Freeview to limit the illegal copying of high-definition TV shows, until issues raised by organisations including the Open Rights Group are addressed.

The BBC is trying to change the Freeview multiplex licence to allow copy protection technology so shows on its HD channel, which will be rolled out nationally from next month, do not become the target of pirates.

Ofcom has received about 200 submissions about the Freeview HD proposals and admitted that a number of issues had been raised, such as the impact on competition in the market and "fair use" of content interpretations, which the BBC must now address.

Jim Killock, the executive director of the Open Rights Group, called the proposal a clear attempt to "enact a form of encryption through the backdoor".

"Such action would permit the BBC to dictate who may provide equipment which accesses the channels it broadcasts - a clear violation of the free-to-air principle and an improper interference in the market by the BBC," he said in a letter to Ofcom.

Ofcom has not given a deadline for the BBC to supply additional information, although the corporation is expected to respond quickly, with the media regulator refusing the change to the Freeview multiplex "without giving these issues further consideration".

"HD content is currently very valuable, owing to its high quality and premium nature," said the BBC in its original letter to Ofcom, dated 27 August, to try to get the anti-piracy technologyallowed.

"As broadband speeds are increasing, facilitating the unauthorised redistribution of HD content, HD content rights holders have begun to expect a degree of content management on the Freeview HD platform. Whilst no system provides a complete deterrent to determined hackers, content management applied in the receiver after reception helps to prevent mass piracy".

Freeview is gearing up to launch its first HD services from the Winter Hill transmitter, which serves Liverpool, Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and north Staffordshire, from next month.


Source:guardian

sheild64

it a right mess this freeveiw it a joke so are the bbc ,hd is a joke as well i been to other countrys and watch normal tv on a hd set and the picture was better than the bbc full hd / hd is a con it just the picture we used to recive many year ago has been mess up so as to make you belive that there is such thing has a hd picture / ok so you think that hd is here ,why should you pay more for something you never ask for after all you brought the tv the hd box you pay tv licences how much does the bbc want