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BBC wants to lock-down Freeview HD content

18 September 2009 3:01 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 8 comments

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has appealed to regulator Ofcom to be allowed to use encryption on Freeview HD data to prevent piracy. Of course, the request was immediately criticized as under licensing rules, the BBC is not allowed to encrypt video or audio streams. However, the BBC is requesting it be allowed to encrypt the data associated with TV listings, which in effect will stop set-top boxes from decoding TV content.

"We are committed to ensuring that public service content remains free to air i.e. unencrypted," the broadcaster said in a statement. "However, HD content holders have begun to expect a degree of content management on the Freeview HD platform and therefore broadcasters have recognised that a form of copy protection is needed."

A vocal critic of the plan is Labour MP Tom Watson, who says the plan results in limiting consumer choices. "In an attempt to satisfy the fears of powerful rights holders, the BBC will prohibit millions of people from programming their existing set top boxes," he in a blog entry. "If implemented this will make it difficult to view or record HDTV broadcasts with free software. Where's the consumer interest in that settlement?"

Under the new system, only trusted manufacturers would be offered the decryption keys for the HD data. Many set-top-boxes use open source software such as Linux to bring down costs, and critics say that the BBC's request will hit these boxes, because DRM is incompatible with open source software. As a result, it would be more difficult for producers of the boxes to get the necessary permissions from the BBC.

Permalink to this article

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Discuss this article!
eiamhere (Junior Member) 18 September 2009 3:53
Does this mean they do not require us to pay our tax.... I mean licence fees now. Seems fair considering they are restricting viewing for the very people who pay extortionate amounts to fund the BBC. [ + quote]
pphoenix (Inactive) 18 September 2009 3:54
Sony & co want full control, we say go away. *Quote:* only trusted manufacturers MPAA: # The Walt Disney Company # Sony Pictures # Paramount Pictures Viacom�(DreamWorks owners since February 2006) # 20th Century Fox (News Corporation) # Universal Studios (NBC Universal) # Warner Bros. (Time Warner) [ + quote]
pippincp (Member) 18 September 2009 9:55
*Originally posted by eiamhere:* Does this mean they do not require us to pay our tax.... I mean licence fees now. Seems fair considering they are restricting viewing for the very people who pay extortionate amounts to fund the BBC. Well I'd say go ahead with encryption if the licence fee was removed. It would then just be another challenge to crack it so it wouldn't last long. They can't have it both ways ie charge just to be able to receive and also encrypt. [ + quote]
shaffaaf (Senior Member) 18 September 2009 11:54
*Quote:* Sony & co want full control, we say go away. *Quote:* only trusted manufacturers MPAA: # The Walt Disney Company # Sony Pictures # Paramount Pictures Viacom�(DreamWorks owners since February 2006) # 20th Century Fox (News Corporation) # Universal Studios (NBC Universal) # Warner Bros. (Time Warner) and this has to do with the BBC what exactly? [ + quote]
MWRMWR (Newbie) 18 September 2009 18:47
> *Quote:* the BBC is not allowed to encrypt video or audio streams. Anyone know if they can encrypt subtitle data streams... or is it bundled with the program schedule data the BBC wants to encrypt ? [ + quote]
pphoenix (Inactive) 19 September 2009 1:58
*Originally posted by shaffaaf:* *Quote:* Sony & co want full control, we say go away. *Quote:* only trusted manufacturers MPAA: # The Walt Disney Company # Sony Pictures # Paramount Pictures Viacom�(DreamWorks owners since February 2006) # 20th Century Fox (News Corporation) # Universal Studios (NBC Universal) # Warner Bros. (Time Warner) and this has to do with the BBC what exactly? if you read the BBC page then goto the EFF page u would realise that it's the MPAA that are trying to force the BBC to adopt these draconian measures. [ + quote]
KillerBug (Senior Member) 19 September 2009 5:42
GAWD...the MPAA has screwed over the entire american TV system, and now they are trying to screw over what is left of the foreign TV systems. Motion Picture Association of America = MPAA What part of that says that they should be forcing DRM on an english TV network? [ + quote]
shaffaaf (Senior Member) 19 September 2009 18:20
and they being in america are trying to for this british company how exactly? [ + quote]