So the people at Channel 4 are testing out their new On demand service http://test.geo. channel4.com/ 4od/get4od/index.jsp for watching TV programmes on your computer.
(I have deliberately broken that link so as not to help drive traffic to their site.)
Lets look at the minimum requirements:-
- Windows XP
- A broadband internet connection
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
- Windows Media Player 10 (if it’s not already installed on your PC, the installation process will help you get it)
- Macromedia Flash 9 (this will be installed automatically if it is not already on your computer) Microsoft.net Framework 2.0 (this will be installed automatically if it’s not already on your computer)
- A minimum of 10 MB of free disk space to install 4oD. You will need 70 MB of free disk space if you need to install Windows Media Player, Macromedia Flash Player 9 and .Net Framework 2.0
What a surprise. Users are forced to use a Digital Restrictions Management encumbered platform to watch the programmes.
So those of us who have chosen to use something other than Windows like, I dunno, Mac OSX, Linux, Solaris or BSD can’t use the service. Even those people with PCs that don’t run XP but run older versions of Windows also can’t watch. Nice one Channel 4.
People want to watch programmes when they want where they want on the device they want. Networks placing restrictions on that use merely drive people away. It’s no wonder people use illegal file sharing tools to download programmes when the networks do this kind of thing.
Have they learned nothing from the music industry?
3 Comments
There must be a storm approaching because C4 is locking down the hatches.
But seriously yes your rant is extremely valid, I just want to be able to do a few clicks to play content. I don’t like jumping through hoops because of DRM.
That’s why I like a little website that links me to all the tv shows I want to watch.
Click, done!
This is something that really annoys me too.
I suppose the argument that C4 would give is that without the DRM the lawyers and the rights holders would never give clearance to have the programmes available for download. So you are better off having a DRM download than nothing because at least then Windows users who install 70MB of software can watch the stuff.
However I personally would rather have nothing available on the site. This and similar plans are only edging the world closer to total DRM infection where all data exists on your hard drive only with the ongoing consent from (and payment to) huge business interests. Even personal data.
When are people going to wake up?
Within 24 hours of LOST being on in the US it was torrent’ed by 25549 people on one tracker alone!
This, although illegal, doesn’t contain any DRM and can be easily shown on your TV. Can the same be said for 4od?