BBC iPlayer starts to block UK VPN server access

[HEXUS]

Move is expected to kick off a game of IP whack-a-mole with VPN service providers.

Read more.

[Zimano]

Earlier this year the BBC closed down an international version of iPlayer which allowed overseas users to view content for a small fee.

Would have made a lot more sense blocking VPN services before they closed this down.

[LSG501]

Would have made a lot more sense blocking VPN services before they closed this down.

this is the bbc... they don't know how to manage anything because they've never had to worry over money due to the tv license.

Common sense would have been to do a 'worldwide' subscription service with a regional lockdown like you say... they could have made it so it was region unlocked to those who pay a UK tv license and live primarily in the UK (you might want to watch Eastenders while on holiday) by adding a code to the tv license or something similar. To be fair though I'm actually struggling to think of anything I watch that's on the bbc these days....

Mind you I hate region locks and other geographical restrictions such as delays in other countries with a passion, they're just an antiquated system that media companies are still hanging on to while constantly complaining about piracy which is 'largely' due to these restrictions and 'communities' no longer being regionally restricted....

[outwar6010]

What a d*** move

[Ishi]

They're playing Hopscotch but they're several turns behind. The winners will be specialised VPN services that won't be so easy to trace.

Also, it appears that you're no longer British if you're on holiday or working overseas (but still paying license fees).

[kingpotnoodle]

What a d*** move

Here in the UK we pay a licence fee - i.e. we PAID for the content whether we liked it or not.

Foreign users did not pay the licence fee so the BBC allowing them to view iPlayer content for free is rather like Sky letting anyone use Sky Player for free. It's not a "d*** move" at all, it's simply insisting people contribute their fair share to the costs of producing entertainment they enjoy, sadly in today's world there are plenty of people who make the "d*** move" of thinking they are entitled to have whatever they want to watch for free. Unfortunately because of those people the BBC are trying to close a loophole which may have the collateral effect of limiting a very small number of legitimate UK licence payers but fact is 99.9% of legitimate users are not using a VPN to watch iPlayer.

[Corky34]

this is the bbc... they don't know how to manage anything because they've never had to worry over money due to the tv license.

Yea it's not like they regularly have to justify what they spend our money on...Ohh wait...
As much as you either like or dislike the BBC i can't think of any other media service that compares in terms of price vs content.

[LSG501]

Yea it's not like they regularly have to justify what they spend our money on...Ohh wait...

and the last time they actually had anything done other than a verbal telling off over 'high wages' was.... and don't forget their latest request for more cash under the premise of 'digital programs' etc

As much as you either like or dislike the BBC i can't think of any other media service that compares in terms of price vs content.

To be fair a high percentage of the bbc broadcasting these days is repeats so you could easily compare them to itv or channel 5, they may not make all the content (to be fair the bbc outsources a lot too) but they show as much if not more 'original' content as the bbc. It's also not so much about how much they make but what they show on tv because it's not exactly great these days, same rubbish in things like eastenders (even down to old cast returning) while new things like Dr Who has turned into a joke (and I love sci fi stuff) and Poldark (one of their latest 'hits') seems to be aimed at bored housewives. Even my nan in her 80's doesn't seem to watch the bbc anymore....

[bridges009]

A BBC spokesman:

“These figures simply aren’t plausible. All our evidence shows the vast majority of BBC iPlayer usage is in the UK. BBC iPlayer and the content on it is paid for by UK licence fee payers in the UK and we take appropriate steps to protect access to this content.”

[rob4001]

Also all the sport has left the bbc cricket, golf etc so there really isn't all that much left on there they are rapidly becoming irrelevant. Yes they make the odd good documentary and wildlife programmes but not much else.

[Corky34]

and the last time they actually had anything done other than a verbal telling off over 'high wages' was.... and don't forget their latest request for more cash under the premise of 'digital programs' etc

Well it seems a bit silly to fine them like we do with the train companies, the money only comes from one place after all.
Personally i would either restrict the wages or directly fine the execs for wrong doings, but that's a whole other kettle of fish.

To be fair a high percentage of the bbc broadcasting these days is repeats so you could easily compare them to itv or channel 5, they may not make all the content (to be fair the bbc outsources a lot too) but they show as much if not more 'original' content as the bbc. It's also not so much about how much they make but what they show on tv because it's not exactly great these days, same rubbish in things like eastenders (even down to old cast returning) while new things like Dr Who has turned into a joke (and I love sci fi stuff) and Poldark (one of their latest 'hits') seems to be aimed at bored housewives. Even my nan in her 80's doesn't seem to watch the bbc anymore....

Fair enough, obviously how people view (no pun intended) the BBC is very subjective, personally i watch/listen/read a lot of BBC content so personally think the £10 odd a month is well worth the money.

[outwar6010]

What a d*** move

Here in the UK we pay a licence fee - i.e. we PAID for the content whether we liked it or not.

Foreign users did not pay the licence fee so the BBC allowing them to view iPlayer content for free is rather like Sky letting anyone use Sky Player for free. It's not a "d*** move" at all, it's simply insisting people contribute their fair share to the costs of producing entertainment they enjoy, sadly in today's world there are plenty of people who make the "d*** move" of thinking they are entitled to have whatever they want to watch for free. Unfortunately because of those people the BBC are trying to close a loophole which may have the collateral effect of limiting a very small number of legitimate UK licence payers but fact is 99.9% of legitimate users are not using a VPN to watch iPlayer.

As someone who lives in the uk I feel it is a d*** move. The content was paid for by us and it shouldn't really be a big deal if people want to stream it from abroad. Hell even content we download is unusable after a month or so. So what's the point?

[Plasmastorm]

Well this all started a year or so back when they realized they had a good service.
So naturally they have to balls it up as much as they can

[Plasmastorm]

Also forgot to mention that any comment about UK folks paying a license and so only they get access is total crap. You DO NOT need a TV license to access the iPlayer. At least not the non-live shows on it.

However that is set to change in the next few years. currently a license is only required for view of live streams. It's getting changed to cover non live streaming of digital content however.

[Herbtree]

i don't about everyone else but stopped watching tv many years ago and i don't pay tv license. that's not to say i don't watch serials like game of thrones etc but there is nothing that interests me on bbc . like mentioned earlier all the decent sport has gone and you can normally purchase streaming subscriptions for btsport and the others.
oh and bbc news is the most bias crap i have ever seen

[Sumanji]

I don't understand why they haven't implemented fixed logins for iPlayer, in the same way that Sky have for Sky Go. Surely that would go a long way to ensure that only people with valid TV licences (i.e. living in the UK) have access to the content?

But for expats and internationals wanting access, it seems stupid not to make a paid subscription available.