Norwegian Broadcasting Sets Up Its Own Tracker 187
eirikso writes with an interesting story from Norway; the state broadcaster there has decided to put up some of its content on BitTorrent. "The tracker is based on the same OpenTracker software that the Pirate Bay has been using for the last couple of years. By using BitTorrent we can reach our audience with full quality, unencrypted media files. Experience from our early tests show that if we're the best provider of our own content we also gain control of it."
Re:Umm... (Score:3, Interesting)
No. You are in the right universe.
Just wait and see what happens to their control when they no longer want to provide something.
Re:War! (Score:5, Interesting)
Will this mean war? Norway vs the EU! nay! against the whole world!
They have a decent amount of oil & gas, which the EU and others desperately need.
They also have healthy fish stocks, through fairly competent management of fisheries. The EU regularly howls of unfair competition in fish, as the EU has rapaciously plundered its own stocks, and continues overfishing at destructive levels.
It's the EU that will cave in, not Norway. Disclaimer: I'm not Norwegian, but did visit there twice (1983 and 1998), and changed plane in Oslo a few times.
Re:And now let's bitch about the CODEC used (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Somebody catch me... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I for one... (Score:3, Interesting)
The BBC basically shows how NOT to run a state-run TV channel.
Re:Somebody catch me... (Score:5, Interesting)
As for the "Money" bit, you do realized this is a fully government funded organization don't you?
Yes, but if I was a Norwegian citizen and they asked me to vote on something that would slightly raise taxes to pay for upgrades, new shows, etc, I might actually vote for it because the government in this case is actually using taxpayer money responsibly.
Re:I for one... (Score:3, Interesting)
Why should I, as a UK TV licence payer, fund programs for other people to watch?
Additionally, I believe that since the BBC co-producers shows with other broadcasters in other countries, the licensing agreements currently in place mean the BBC has to take steps to stop (for example) a co-Canadian produced drama appearing for free before it is shown in Canada.
Oh, and the BBC is not a state-run tv channel. It is a public broadcaster, but aside from the BBC Trust (which is more advisory), Government input is limited. Indeed the BBC have a very long and strong history of taking the Government (be it Tory or Labour) to task.
It should also be noted that there isn't a 'TV tax' in the UK. The TV licence is only payable if you actually own a TV capable of receiving BBC programming. Now whilst the licence system could use a bit of modernising, it isn't a blanket tax.
Re:I for one... (Score:1, Interesting)
Well, except for things like Doctor who, which is at least partially funded by CBC, the Canadian Broadcaster, and is over a YEAR out of date when it hits our airwaves...
How do you think I get my fix of the Doctor? Do I wait a year, and pretend to not know what's going on via Outpost Gallifrey or some other Fansite?
Duh. My country, and therefore MY tax dollars paid for that show... and guess what, you still region lock us. Idiots. Your web site won't even play teasers and trailers. Morons.
Sheesh. Of course fans will just bittorrent it.
The sad thing, is the CBC actually DOES provide the shows on their website... but they are slow in getting their year old episodes released.
Re:Umm... (Score:3, Interesting)
Would had been cool if they had choosen TPB instead of setting up their own tracker though, maybe they could had gotten a category of their own or something such.
But it would be nice for the people behind TPB to say "well, see, at least NRK gets it .."
It is all about being able to demand license fees (Score:5, Interesting)
NRK actually tried to claim that everyone who owns a telephone also has a television and asked for permission to demand that everyone registered with a telephone pays the TV license. They were, luckily, denied when they tried that one. Now they are trying to claim that everyone who owns a computer can view their content and should pay a television license.
NRK setting up a BitTorrent tracker does look like a good thing - at first glance. But do not get fooled: This is all about getting a new Norwegian law which would say that everyone who owns computer technology must pay NRK a yearly fee. It is that simple. This is all about the money. That they use BitTorrent is in itself a good thing. Their motives are absolutely not.
Re:I for one... (Score:4, Interesting)
Actually if you were in Europe if you pointed a dish at 28.2 East you would have access to bbc1 to 4 cbbc and cbeebies also itv1-4 channel 4 e4 more4 film4 and channel 5 all are broadcast in the clear with no encryption. The bbc does limit it's output on the Internet but presumably it has to pay for the bandwidth used. so bbc says yes to give away for free, no to paying to let you watch for free.
Re:Umm... (Score:3, Interesting)
We American's don't salute the flag. We pledge allegiance to our flag and everything it represents - not just the nation itself, but its ideals.
I refused to say the pledge in high school as I'm an Atheist and I object to the "Under God" bit. I stand out of respect, but I don't salute in any way nor do I say the pledge.
My homeroom teacher was in the Air Force and she really didn't like me for that, especially since I said, "Thank you for your service to this wonderful country that allows me to express my dissent."