The BBC should not pay for the iPlayer
Garnet Roach
The BBC shouldn’t be forced to pay for the development of next generation broadband networks Ofcom’s chief executive has told MPs. (23-04-08)
Broadband providers have seen internet traffic increase massively since the full-scale launch of its BBC iPlayer catch-up service on Christmas Day last year, with top shows such as Dr Who, Tortchwood and Ashes to Ashes attracting around 50,000 hits a day.
Earlier this month, Tiscali (www.Tiscali.co.uk) said that the BBC should be forced to contribute public funds towards upgrading the country’s networks, while Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com) has warned of higher prices if congestion continued to increase.
However, Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, told a joint session of the Commons Culture, Media & Sport and Business and Enterprise committees that this was just one option that the telecoms regulator was considering.
But he added: “It is not necessarily the only way it can happen and it is not necessarily the way we would anticipate it will happen.
“I am not convinced myself that the right answer to that is to get the BBC to pay for the iPlayer.”
Richards confirmed that Ofcom would not rule out “content-led tariff models” where ISPs do deals with content providers to prioritise that traffic on their networks.
Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “Network traffic is increasing all the time, and although Ofcom appears to have ruled out major broadcasters contributing towards the cost of streaming their content, a solution must be found or ISPs will have to start increasing headline prices and applying even more restrictions to their connections during peak hours.”
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