BBC Plans To Simulcast Channels Online
The BBC’s has moved a lot more quickly than most broadcasters to embrace new technologies, partly thanks to its non-advertising-centric business model. Earlier this year, it attracted the ire of record labels by making Beethoven’s symphonies available for download as way to introduce people to classical music, and its also started debuting some TV shows online before they’re shown over the air. Based on the success of the downloadable shows — as well as the massive interest in a leaked episode of Doctor Who — the BBC’s director of television says the company is planning to simulcast its TV networks on the web, as well as put additional video content to accompany shows (bugmenot required) online. This is also in addition to its media player that will let people watch the last week’s worth of programs online.
Too few broadcasters understand that they should be taking steps to make their content more accessible to people in whatever format and on whatever device they want to use, and devote resources to evolving their business model to accomodate that, rather than trying to figure out ways to block it.
