Dizzy Thinks

As Dizzy points out most bias on the BBC is unintentional. This does not mean it isn't real. In fact the bias of the BBC is all the more powerful for being subtle.

link to post

"People always want more bandwidth"

Nomad attended an IET Seminar last week which was presented by Giles Heron who is a Network Architect at BT. Interestingly Giles admitted to not owning a television.

The seminar provided an overview of BTs 21st Century Network project which involves switching the core network entirely over to the use of IP. BT will even be using IP for voice channels (hopefully the quality will be better than Skype). For the local loop BT are currently rolling out ADSL2+ which offers up to 20Mbs (if you live next door to the exchange). For the longer term BT are trialling fibre to the cabinet which will offer 40 Mbs and fibre to the home which will offer up to 100 Mbs.

Nomads reason for turning up however was that the seminar also provided a view of where the networks see demand growth coming from. The ISPs and Telco’s are running scared of the bandwidth implications resulting from the use of video on demand (VOD). Interestingly from a Telco point of view Live TV over internet is not very problematic as the network can cope with point to multipoint streaming; the backhaul bandwidth is not that great. His implication was that BT is considering offering live IPTV as a retail product. Conversely however video on demand creates an enormous backhaul requirement.

Some statistics illustrate the issue: BBC iPlayer currently generates 12Gb of data per second into the BT network. BT already sees peaks in overall network usage due to popular iPlayer demands such as Grand Prix. Looking forwards it is estimated that by 2013 90% of global internet traffic will be video

There was a question from the floor about whether the network operators were expecting a financial return from VOD, particularly given that the lack of return on investment in HD TV made by various broadcasters. Giles admitted that there did not appear to be much return available and the network operators saw themselves running ever faster just to stand still. However the ISPs and Telco’s are committed to provide this bandwidth as this is what the customers want.

Possible mitigation strategies for offloading VOD traffic were discussed. These included Peer to Peer sharing, Local Storage, Network Cache and Download at off peak periods (night time). Nomad did not think of this until he was back home, but the “pull” model of video on demand is obviously flawed and needs replaced with a “push” model. If new editions were streamed to subscribers at set times then point to multi-point streaming could be used to dramatically reduce network load. Obviously the stream needs to be repeated regularly in case subscribers did not have their PC turned on.

The big point that Nomad took away is that the networks have already decided that video on demand is going to happen. The Telco’s planning assumptions are based on people switching to video on demand. A major shift in the way that people watch “television” is under way.

Bidding War Continues

As Nomad expected the Tories were not slow to emphasise thier agreement with Mr Bradshaw:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1214317/Well-rein-BBC-say-Tories-radical-plans-prevent-broadcaster-state.html

Hallelujah!

Ben Bradshaw has just changed the world. If the Minister for Culture thinks that the BBC has too much money, well after all, he is the man paid to decide these things. The point is that it is unlikely that the conservatives will disagree. In the run up to an election, there is a not just consensus, there is actually a developing bidding war, where both sides see votes in attacking the licence fee.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6081719/BBC-expansion-should-stop-says-minister.html

Somewhat less surprising here is some comment from the usual suspects that Nomad rather likes:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/6201579/The-BBC-has-never-hesitated-to-use-its-tax-funded-clout-to-take-on-private-ventures.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/6202967/How-the-BBC-could-switch-off-the-funding-row.html

Drip, drip, drip

The constant criticism continues:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/6170040/X-Factor-v-Strictly-Come-Dancing---proof-that-the-BBC-is-failing-licence-fee-payers.html

38 Degrees?

I have never heard of these people but they are starting a petion to support the 'the corporation'. Someone must be worried!

http://38degrees.org.uk/page/s/BBCpetitionFB2

As you can see, it rather misses the point. The BBC does not have "commercial competitors", it is funded by a tax. If I set out to see whether I could run faster than Formula One car, then you might call that a competion, personally I think it would rather be stretching the use of language.

They also say "Of course, it's no coincidence that the BBC's main critics lie within the very media organisations who stand to gain the most". But actually if you were to run a survey of the blogosphere (ie not main stream media) you would find, on balance, even more hostility to 'the corporation'.

Sky read this blog!

Although it may just be coincidence, the Sky news feeds are back to normal. It seems to have been put right the day after I put it on my blog.

Either way thanks for fixing it guys.

Blinkbox?

Nomad will be looking into this at some point.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/6057046/BBC-archived-shows-made-available-via-Blinkbox.html

Not giving up

Here is more good stuff from the Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/6106530/BBC-chief-error-to-let-public-have-a-say-on-star-pay.html

and also this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/6111316/BBC-will-have-to-reveal-pay-for-stars-says-head-of-Ofcom.html

Nomad hesitates to back Murdochs attempt to charge for internet content. In fact Nomad predicts that this will fail in no uncertain fashion. His views on 'the corporation' are quite apt though.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/6111578/BBCs-websites-flooding-the-market-says-News-Corps-James-Murdoch.html

Sky News feeds

The Sky News feeds have been very erratic since the 23rd of August. It confuses the issue that Nomad was on holiday at that point. However all my other feeds are operating normally. It appears that Sky have messed things up somehow.

This is quite a major concern as Sky provide the only national news podcast feed in the UK.