Interesting Stuff 2009-04-23
"Watch Horrible Histories on your terrible TV!" screams a soldier on the new Horrible Histories minisite which launched on Friday. It's just one of many recent minisite launches, including Ashes to Ashes, Lifegivers and Gardeners World.
On Monday we launched iPlayer HD. Nick Jackson, a University of Lincoln student, has blogged his satisfaction -- along with some frustration at the restrictions of broadband speeds in university accommodation.
Dan's Media Digest casts a critical eye over the launch -- and wonders if the new HD streams will be made available on Virgin set top boxes. The same thing is being discussed here, too.
WebTVWire gives a good breakdown of all the new additions here.
See a selection of news coverage about iPlayer HD here.
The BBC's licence fee deal includes £130m a year set aside for the digital switchover help scheme between now and 2012, when the UK is due to completed the move from analogue to digital terrestrial television.However, last year the National Audit Office estimated that up to £250m could be left over from the digital switchover fund once the analogue TV signal is switched off in 2012, based upon lower than expected take up in the first region to make the move.
There has been a fight between Ofcom, Carter and the BBC over what to do with any leftover digital switchover cash. Darling's intervention suggests that the government has won and the licence fee money will be used to support universal broadband.
One commenter questions the 2mbps target, especially given the recent iPlayer HD launch:
[T]hat's not enough to get the best out of, say, BBC iPlayer now, with its impressive new hd options. strikes me as a waste of money to roll out something that's already on its way to being obsolete.
Steve Busfield isn't entirely convinced. When exactly does the digital switchover cash switch over?
More on the plans here and here.
The Radio 4 blog asked for thoughts on their site redesign -- and now they're acting on that feedback.
Up Your Ego is -- how can we put this lightly? -- less than impressed about Radio 4 putting a Webby Award graphic at the top of their pages.
Dave Lee is co-editor, BBC Internet Blog, Future Media and Technology.
Comment number 1.
At 14:17 23rd Apr 2009, Neil wrote:This is all very well but what about those of us who prefer radio and pay our licence fee?
BBC Radio online quality is still not up to scratch and BBC local radio at 44kbits via real player is absolutely shocking!!!I dont want real player on my PC either!!!!
If BBC Radio 3 on listen again can be 192kbits aac + why not all the others too. I pay my licence fee and want to hear my choice in as good a quality.
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Comment number 2.
At 15:47 23rd Apr 2009, SteveoBagins wrote:...do a little bit of digging (and I do mean a LITTLE bit) and you'll find that everything you are asking for is on the way.
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Comment number 3.
At 18:23 23rd Apr 2009, Codingmonkey wrote:If you go to the iplayer and then activate the Labs features then you will get a 128kbps AAC Stream for Radio 3.
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Comment number 4.
At 23:20 23rd Apr 2009, Neil wrote:Yep I am, aware of that and on listen again Radio 3 is 192kbits,I wish the other BBC stations to be as good as this too. I dont like the fact radio 3 gets preference on 6 music for e.g. I pay my licence fee like everyone else
https://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/2009/02/bbc_complaint_on-demand_radio_bitrates.php
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Comment number 5.
At 14:09 18th Jun 2009, JVince wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 6.
At 16:51 23rd Oct 2009, 007MarghoSting wrote:I too think that the quality of BBC Radio online is not the best but I have no problems with BBC local radio at 44kbits.
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