Want to show off your fancy new HDTV and Blu-ray player? Yes, you do! This summer will see the release of “The BBC High-Definition Natural History Collection,” a collection of some of the best high-def nature programming money can buy. The collection has a few episodes from series like “Planet Earth” (which is amazing, by the way), “Galapagos” and “Wild China,” which has nothing to do with the former WWE wrestler, thank God. There’s a total of eight discs in the collection, and it’ll retail for about $180 when it goes on sale on July 22. I’ve either downloaded or seen on TV most of the included shows, but owning them on Blu-ray (or getting a nice, x264 rip) would be swell, too. → Read More
The BBC has been testing a new service called SoundIndex, which lists the top 1,000 artists based on discussions crawled from Bebo, Last.fm, Google Groups, iTunes, MySpace and YouTube. The top five bands according to SoundIndex right now are Coldplay, Rihanna, The Ting Tings, Duffy and Mariah Carey , but the index is refreshed every six hours. This is somewhat similar to Songkick’s “Battle Of The Bands,” which we covered in March. Songkick uses different data – MySpace, Amazon and blogs – to determine rankings, and the results are completely different. SoundIndex also lets users sort by popular tracks, search by artist, or create customized charts based on music preferences or filters by age range, sex or location. Results can also be limited to just one data source (such as Last.fm). SoundIndex was created in partnership with IBM (IBM’s Semantic Super Computing is used to crawl and analyze sites), and the UK’s NovaRising produces the site. The project is coming out of BBC Switch, BBC’s new teen service delivering content to 12 to 17-year-olds across multiple platforms, TV, Radio 1 and online. Thanks to Tyler McNally for the tip. CrunchBase Information SoundIndex Songkick Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More
I applaud the Beeb’s white hat hacking of Facebook. (Reminder: for all your black hat needs, look no further.) Whereas the AP was content a few days ago to sound the alarm over Facebook apps using your info for stupid purposes, the BBC hired someone to do some real theoretical damage. What’s most scary about the application developed by the Beeb is that you yourself don’t have to install the application; you’re just a vulnerable if one of your dumb app-happy friends installs it. I sincerely hope there’s a large-scale security breach at Facebook so as to scare straight its less savvy users. → Read More
This is just off the chain. I knew elephants were good painters, but filmmakers? A new BBC series used specially trained elephants to follow a group of tiger cubs and their mother around in a jungle for the duration of their cubhood. I’m not sure if you heard me correctly, they used specially trained elephants. Elephants trained to frame shots and hold their mounted hi-def cameras steady. Replace “frame” with “aim” and “hi-def cameras” with “hi-powered lasers” and you’ve pretty much got this. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but it sure is awesome. Check out the trailer and more here. → Read More
Behold the Peel P50 in all its glory. It’s got a 4.5 horsepower engine, 35 MPH top speed, and 100 MPG fuel efficiency. It was manufactured in the Isle of Man back in 1963 and originally sold for 198 GBP (about $400). It’s so small that the BBC’s Jeremy Clarkson can actually wheel it around from place to place — like up to his office. Good thing, too, because there’s no reverse. via TreeHugger → Read More
If you are looking for some stock videos to add to your blog or Website, Mochila just added about 800 clips from the BBC Motion Gallery, the licensing arm of the BBC. It doesn’t include news clips unfortunately, but there are plenty of science and culture videos. If you need a nicely produced video of striped fish or how to make a Singapore Sling, you can find it on Mochila and embed it on your blog. You will have to sign up first and agree to Mochila’s licensing terms. Mochila offers a large syndication library from 350 different content partners, including news articles, photos, and videos. You can find content from Reuters, the AP, Hearst and Getty Images and put it in a post, or mix and match items to create your own customized channel that appears in a constantly changing widget. Mochila serves ads in the widget and splits the proceeds 40 percent to the content owner, 30 percent to the Website or blog that publishes it, and keeps 30 percent for itself. We are seeing more and more of these types of syndication platforms for spreading traditional media content out to the Web. ClipSyndicate, for instance, does something similar for news video clips from ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates, as well as Bloomberg and AP video. Mochila cuts the licensing deals with the big media companies on behalf of bloggers and Websites, and gives them legal access to the content, with a little rev-share of the advertising proceeds thrown in. Says CEO Keith McAllister: The core technology is around licensing. We allow content owners to set custom content licensing around their content down to the asset level. So the BBC can set parameters around what types of sites can show its videos, and even block specific sites it does not want to be associated with. And blogger scan create their own custom content channels. It is a good model. All it needs is better content. CrunchBase Information Mochila ClipSyndicate Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More
[photopress:bbcbt.jpg,full,center] BitTorrent is getting more legitimate with each passing day. There’s word today that the European Union will put up $22 million, or €15 million, for the development of an open source BitTorrent client—P2P-Net—that supports live streaming. (Wow that sounds like a lot of money to spend for what amount to some kid’s summertime Google Code entry.) Of note is who’s partnering with the in-development service, namely the BBC, which will stream its TV shows using the application. How long until CBS et al. embrace P2P technology, especially BitTorrent? Ah, yes. Never. EU Invests $22 Million in Next-Generation BitTorrent Client [TorrentFreak] → Read More
The BBC’s project to make its enormous back catalog of quality British TV shows available online was ambitious to say the least. But due to colossal mismanagement and a lack of vision and flexibility, its iPlayer app is clumsy, unpopular, and pretty much redundant. I imagine a Dilbert-esque scene as the 400 people on the project all met and shared conflicting ideas for the bloated monstrosity, and even after spending almost $10 million, (4.5m pounds), the sucker just doesn’t work. So what spoiled it? Was it the download-only platform? The low resolution and bad encoding? Or maybe it was the time bomb DRM scheme that detonated your episode after so many days? Maybe we’ll never know, because the entire project has been reworked and the team pruned to a lean, mean team of 15. The 2nd-gen iPlayer is yet to be seen, and whether it will integrate with the BBC on-demand set-top box is also pure speculation. In any case, I think it’s safe to say that you should stick to your Ab-Fab DVDs for the time being. Why is the iPlayer a multi million pound disaster? [The Register] → Read More
With Microsoft recently purchasing a 1.6-percent stake in Facebook for a whopping $240 million, many are questioning if Facebook is truly worth $15 billion. While many pundits are calling $15 billion crazy, the BBC takes a look at why Facebook could actually be worth the big bucks. For instance, did you know that over 200,000 new users join Facebook each day? Talk about astronomical growth! Other reasons include the fact that Facebook is the quintessential Web 2.0 application and how Facebook messaging is the “new e-mail”. The list goes further, but I won’t spoil the fun for you. Sail on over to the BBC link below for the full monty. 15 reasons Facebook may be worth $15bn [BBC] → Read More
European ISPs are up in arms over the BBC’s new online TV player, iPlayer. Concerns from service providers such as Tiscali and companies like Carphone Warehouse center around, of all things, a fear of the BBC’s player being too successful and pounding their networks during peak hours. Apparently the internet isn’t ready for IPTV. As the Financial Times reports Mary Turner, CEO of Tiscali UK says, “The internet was not set up with a view to distributing video. We have been improving our capacity, but the bandwidth we have is not infinite”. Add to this concerns over Joost’s ability to compete head to head on quality with other online video providers and it paints a poor picture for TV getting online. However, this seems a thinly veiled return to the net neutrality debate that periodically pops up when ISPs start thinking of ways to increase revenue without increasing network capacity. As GigaOm cites, it could cost UK ISPs up to $2 billion to upgrade their capacity to match increasing demand. We’re due for an upgrade in the U.S. The U.S.’s top broadband speeds actually lag behind other OECD countries. Japan’s surfers can connect to the internet on a 100 Mbps Ferrari compared to the U.S topping out at a 40 Mbps 1970’s hatchback. They also pay much less, $0.22/Mbps to our $3.10/Mbps. And to think companies brag about a $260/month 50 Mbps connection in Sacramento. New IPTV startups are only a slice of internet traffic. According to a report by CacheLogic, more than 60 percent of Internet traffic is used by peer-to-peer swaps, and about 60 percent of those swaps involve video content. IPTV adds to demand, but has been singled out most likely because there are a few large content providers to point the finger at. → Read More
The major broadcasters in the U.K. are in the process of prepping their mobile portals, as a result of mobile operators offering flat-rate data tariffs. Thus the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV are all starting to ramp up their mobile strategies. Channel 4 hired former MTV executive Ben Lister to head its mobile business development, and ITV is also planning to develop new portals around specific programming, including major sporting events. The BBC may have the biggest issues to overcome, notably how to program for the new platforms while maintaining the public service mandate that comes with being a state-run TV network. [Via NewMediaAge] → Read More
Last week rumors began circulating that the BBC might be in the process of developing a video game based on the long running Doctor Who TV series. While the original series ran from 1963 until 1988, a new version of the sci-fi drama just concluded its third season on the BBC, and is currently running on the Sci-Fi Channel in America. This isn’t the first time the infamous Time Lord’s adventures were made into a game. In addition to a silly board game and a paper and pencil roleplaying game from FASA, there was a little known action platformer in the 1980s featuring the Doctor in his fifth incarnation. However, the idea of the BBC bringing out a Doctor Who game sounds very cool (if they do it right). Plus, being the ultimate Anglophile there are a few other BBC series that this reporter would love to see in game form. Let’s face it, the BBC has some really cool series and hopefully some of these will be developed into games. → Read More
Care for a spot of tea? BBC, that stalwart of UK television AKA telly, is now offering a peer-to-peer video player called the iPlayer what will offer a selection of “programmes” from the past “weeke” and offer “livee” “programmeing” as it happens. Apparently the program has been circulating for a few weeks but they’ve finally gotten it working to an extent that’s acceptable to the “citizenes” of “merrie olde England.” It only works on “Ye Olde Windowes XP,” which sucks “the yarbles.” Give it a go, “guv” and see how it works for you. Tell us about it in the “commentes.” BBC online video service launches [BBC] → Read More
I sometimes say regretful things when speaking off the cuff at conferences. Last month at The Future of Web Apps conference in London I (jokingly) called for the dissolution of the BBC because some of their online ventures are, in my opinion, stifling private sector startup initiatives in the UK and Europe. As a publicly funded entity with near limitless financial resources, I think the BBC needs to be careful about what businesses they dip their toes into. I mentioned a new BBC virtual world product as an example. Did I mean it literally? No. The BBC sends us far too much traffic for me to want it to dissolve (and I think it’s a brilliant, well run company as well). But the whole thing was caught on video and, as you can imagine, I was roundly (and I believe properly) criticized (although see this comment). At best this is none of my business, although I lived in the UK for many years and well remember the dreaded BBC television tax. But it appears that some European startups do consider this their business, and have complained to the European Commission about the BBC’s Jam project, “an online learning resource for children, designed to be used at home to support key areas of the school curriculum across the UK.” The service went live a year ago, and the BBC said they plan on investing £150m on the project over five years. Half of that has already been spent, 190 people work on the project and 170,000 users have registered for the service. The BBC says they will suspend the service based on these complaints. “Commercial people in the education sector are claiming the BBC is damaging their business; it is seen as a state subsidy,” said BBC Media Correspondent Torin Douglas. I don’t know the nature of the complaints, and I don’t have an opinion on this other than to say that it’s clear that the BBC is struggling with it’s boundaries and what types of services it can offer, particularly online. Those of you in the UK – please let me know what you think about all of this. → Read More
and BBC News, and will be ad-free. BBC Worldwide content will carry ads and clips from popular shows and, finally, BBC News will only be available outside the UK and will also carry ads. It will include clips from the regular news reports. Old Farlettrousers, or the Smoke, as the BBC is called in England, has always been ahead of the curve on this who Internet concept, and they can only be applauded for offering high quality coolness over YouTube. Now, shall we have a spot of tea and put another steak and kidney pie on the barbie, oy? BBC strikes Google-YouTube deal [Fartletrousers] → Read More
If a bunch of open-source supporting nerds start yelling at a bunch of Brits, guess who it’s over? Yerp, Microsoft. The Open Source Consortium has come down hard against the BBC’s plans to force online TV viewers into Microsoft products. New on-demand service the BBC is offering will only be available to those using Windows and “up-to-date” versions of Microsoft products. I can see the BBC’s concerns for having to use a Windows Media Player-based DRM system, but this completely gives Mac and Linux users the shaft. Way to open up, BBC. BBC slammed for Microsoft lock-in [VNU Net] → Read More
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=4662636869909322164&hl=en Digg just found this great 60 minute documentary on Tetris. I’d suggest saving this link and heading home for a good viewing because it’s really an amazing documentary. They literally make the story of a simple Russian puzzle game into a fascinating thriller. Way to go, loyal subjects of the Queen. → Read More
As much as I love the BBC, I can’t help but wonder if they would have written about this new virtual world if it wasn’t their own property. Details are very thin. In fact, as Ben Metcalfe, a former BBC’er, points out, we don’t know if this is a simple Flash game or a real competitor to Second Life. It is slated to go live this summer, and will be called “CBBC World” because it is part of CBBC, the BBC channel for 7-12 year olds. Users will be able to “create almost every aspect of their avatar” and money/finances will not be a part of the world. Hopefully more details will emerge soon. → Read More
Zudeo, the new “100% legal” content sharing site launched by popular BitTorrent company Azureus two weeks ago, just nailed a distribution deal with the BBC. That just took them from a theoretically cool product to a player in the online video space. Under the agreement, BBC will license a number of television shows to U.S. users, including Red Dwarf, Strange and Invasion Earth, Little Britain, Doctor Who, Fawlty Towers, Coupling, Keeping Up Appearances, League of Gentlemen and Ideal. It is a tragedy that they didn’t include the only BBC show worth watching, The Office. Of course, that show is readily available on Azureus’ BitTorent client. The benefits of Zudeo are pretty clear to publishers, who can leverage P2P networks to substantially decrease bandwidth costs and speed downloads for users. This spells trouble for Pando and Red Swoosh, which offer competing products to publishers. Zudeo probably isn’t focused on those companies, though. There is a multi-party war brewing for IPTV eyeballs between iTunes, Venice Project, Zudeo and YouTube. Watch this space. → Read More
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