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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pay for BBC iPlayer says TV chief | Pay for BBC iPlayer says TV chief |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Users of the BBC iPlayer should be charged "micro payments" to use the online catch-up service said Lorraine Heggessey, chief executive of TV production company Talkback Thames. | |
| Ms Heggessey was speaking at a BBC event on Tuesday. | Ms Heggessey was speaking at a BBC event on Tuesday. |
| Tony Cohen, chief executive of Talkback's parent company Fremantle Media, has also spoken out in support of a revenue model for all catch up TV. | Tony Cohen, chief executive of Talkback's parent company Fremantle Media, has also spoken out in support of a revenue model for all catch up TV. |
| Fremantle is currently conducting a feasibility study of the concept. | Fremantle is currently conducting a feasibility study of the concept. |
| Most broadcasters now offer an online catch-up service, and with advertising revenue falling in the commercial TV sector, there is increasing industry support for the idea of charging for it. | Most broadcasters now offer an online catch-up service, and with advertising revenue falling in the commercial TV sector, there is increasing industry support for the idea of charging for it. |
| Research carried out by Fremantle suggests that people would be willing to pay up to £2 for certain shows. | Research carried out by Fremantle suggests that people would be willing to pay up to £2 for certain shows. |
| No plans | No plans |
| However, the BBC says it has no plans to introduce such a fee. | However, the BBC says it has no plans to introduce such a fee. |
| "The cost of the BBC iPlayer is covered by the licence fee, so UK users have already paid for this service," said a spokesperson. | "The cost of the BBC iPlayer is covered by the licence fee, so UK users have already paid for this service," said a spokesperson. |
| The BBC spent £6m developing its iPlayer service, which launched on Christmas day in 2007. During peak times it pumps out 12GB of data per second to users - the equivalent of around 2400 MP3s. | The BBC spent £6m developing its iPlayer service, which launched on Christmas day in 2007. During peak times it pumps out 12GB of data per second to users - the equivalent of around 2400 MP3s. |
| Media industry expert Steve Hewlett, former director of programmes at Carlton Television, says that in theory the idea of paying to watch TV programmes online makes sense. | Media industry expert Steve Hewlett, former director of programmes at Carlton Television, says that in theory the idea of paying to watch TV programmes online makes sense. |
| The BBC never thought it was appropriate to give away DVDs, so why should catch-up be free? Steve Hewlett | The BBC never thought it was appropriate to give away DVDs, so why should catch-up be free? Steve Hewlett |
| "The BBC never thought it was appropriate to give away DVDs, so why should catch-up be free?" he said. | "The BBC never thought it was appropriate to give away DVDs, so why should catch-up be free?" he said. |
| "Traditionally, licence fee payers have paid for access on a TV set - and only for the first transmission." | "Traditionally, licence fee payers have paid for access on a TV set - and only for the first transmission." |
| Mr Hewlett believes that a payment model similar to that operated by iTunes and Amazon would be an appropriate technical solution. | Mr Hewlett believes that a payment model similar to that operated by iTunes and Amazon would be an appropriate technical solution. |
| "The technology now exists that can make payment straightforward. Once you have your account you tell it to buy, it's easy - in essence it's quite attractive. At iTunes prices, I would pay." | "The technology now exists that can make payment straightforward. Once you have your account you tell it to buy, it's easy - in essence it's quite attractive. At iTunes prices, I would pay." |
| However for as long as the BBC iPlayer remains free, it would be difficult for other broadcasters to implement charges, he warned. | However for as long as the BBC iPlayer remains free, it would be difficult for other broadcasters to implement charges, he warned. |
| "It's one of the ways in which the BBC can create unintended market impact," he said. | "It's one of the ways in which the BBC can create unintended market impact," he said. |