8743 Useful New (Well To Me) Website

Hi , I tried the link it refused me totally said I had to have a tv licensein the UK?

Strange. I understand from You And Yours Radio 4 that you do not need a TV license for BBC iplayer as these are videos and not live. So I would have thought the same for this website. Maybe you could contact the website???

Didn't work for me either, as it recognised my internet connection wasn't coming from the UK.

It's only valid to those with a UK connection (unless there is a work around) and a UK TV licence.

A friend of mine in the UK hasn't a UK TV license as he hasn't got a TV, and it works for him. When I tried to register on this website, there was an option in the drop down menu I can assure you for "UK Residents Abroad". It would be interesting to find out from those who live in Italy and has a UK license too.

This is the message I get:

[B]Access Denied[/B]
TVCatchup.com is a free service enabling qualifying registered users to record and watch UK television online.
To access this service, you must be:
a resident of the United Kingdom
in posession of, or covered by, a valid TV Licence
Your IP Address is not registered as originating from within the borders of the United Kingdom.
If you believe you are receiving this message in error, please either login to continue or Contact Us.

So, not really much use for us in Italy.

What happens if you try BBC Iplayer then??? [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/]BBC - BBC iPlayer - Home[/url]

Part of the registration form on tvcatchup -

[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z294/sallydonaldson/Picture1-1.png[/IMG]

[quote=turtle;82100]What happens if you try BBC Iplayer then??? [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/]BBC - BBC iPlayer - Home[/url][/quote]

[B]2. Downloadable BBC Content is available for download within the UK only.
2. You agree:
o not to download or attempt to download the BBC Content if you are outside the UK;[/B]

According to their terms and conditions it is the same.

No problem though - there is more to do in Italy than watch old programmes from BBC TV!

[quote=Nielo;82099]This is the message I get:

[B]Access Denied[/B]
TVCatchup.com is a free service enabling qualifying registered users to record and watch UK television online.
To access this service, you must be:
a resident of the United Kingdom
in posession of, or covered by, a valid TV Licence
Your IP Address is not registered as originating from within the borders of the United Kingdom.
If you believe you are receiving this message in error, please either login to continue or Contact Us.

So, not really much use for us in Italy.[/quote]

This is a common problem & easily solved. You just need to disguise your IP address. You can find out how to do this by googling "country IP disguise" or "hide my country IP" or similar. If you want you can just go here

[url=http://proxy.org/proxies_sorted.shtml]Web Proxies - sorted by country and software[/url]

Pick a GB proxy sign up off you go.

Or you can use software like this

[url=http://downloads.zdnet.co.uk/0,1000000375,39311043s,00.htm]Hide The IP 2.1.1 - Reviews and free Privacy Software downloads at ZDNet.co.uk[/url]

or

[url=http://www.ninjasurfing.com/]Ninja Surfing - Hide IP Software[/url]

I have sucessfully downloaded stuff fron US sites (blocking UK) with these methods :yes:

Good luck

Amazing!!!

I note these are for pcs. For Apple Users type in mac as a keyword.

web proxies are machine independant - PC, Mac or whatever, as long as you have a working browser connected to the internet, the proxy will mask your IP.

The client software in Chris's other link will probably be PC specific (I haven't looked) but thats more likely to be for anonymizing the content rather than disguising the IP - not an issue in this particuar case.

[quote=chrisnotton;82111]This is a common problem & easily solved. You just need to disguise your IP address. You can find out how to do this by googling "country IP disguise" or "hide my country IP" or similar. If you want you can just go here

[url=http://proxy.org/proxies_sorted.shtml]Web Proxies - sorted by country and software[/url]

Pick a GB proxy sign up off you go.

Or you can use software like this

[url=http://downloads.zdnet.co.uk/0,1000000375,39311043s,00.htm]Hide The IP 2.1.1 - Reviews and free Privacy Software downloads at ZDNet.co.uk[/url]

or

[url=http://www.ninjasurfing.com/]Ninja Surfing - Hide IP Software[/url]

I have sucessfully downloaded stuff fron US sites (blocking UK) with these methods :yes:

Good luck[/quote]

Thank you this is very useful information and has a number of uses, however does it make it legal?:eeeek::laughs:

Well, I've tried two of these. First, the proxy server. I selected a proxy, accessed the BBC web site, but when I opened Iplayer, I was told I had to enable Javascript, which as far as I could see was already enabled. So, it didn't work.

Second: I downloaded the Hide your IP software, and tried to use that, but the trial version (it costs 21 euros a year to subscribe) wouldn't let you choose the country, so you can't choose UK, hence can't access BBC IPlayer.

When I've recovered the will to live, I might try ninja surfing, but at the moment sticking pins into my eyes seems more attractive.

depending on the proxy, it often has its own settings for cookies & javascript (i.e. these override your own local browser settings). That's because it''s the proxy, not your own PC which is actually interacting with the target website ... so it must decide the security it applies on your behalf when doing so.

Another thing worth pointing out is that using these kind of facilities (especially the free ones) will slow down the speed you surf at considerably (as you are using soeone else's bandwidth along with all the other users of the same facility).

Nothing illegal about surfing anonymously or via a proxied IP per se. Using one to bypass the BBC's licence conditions (i.e. the terms under which they are lettign you view their copyrighted content) probably is ... but the Police will not be kicking down your door. Worst case would be they spot the proxy and add it's IP to a black list.

What is the BBC broadcasting that is worth this sort of hassle?

Am I really missing anything?

Surely there are better things to do in life?

Just to remind everyone, you do not have to have a BBC license to use their iplayer as the progtammes are videos and not live. Also ITV channels have similar players but alas that's a no go area for us Apple users.

Hey this is great I sometimes would like to record 2 programes that are on at the same time.

I have a theory about that drop down menu on the tvcatchup site showing you can choose UK Resident Abroad - Italy. Maybe you can register first in the UK then can login with your registration User ID and Password in Italy. I shall try it on my next visit and report back.

It seems BBC have just announced a version of iplayer for Mac being introduced this year whereby you can also download the programmes as well as playing them. - [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7233252.stm]BBC NEWS | Technology | BBC iPlayer to hit Macs in 2008[/url]

[quote=turtle;82142]Just to remind everyone, you do not have to have a BBC license to use their iplayer as the progtammes are videos and not live. [/quote]

True. My earlier post mentioning "BBC licence conditions" referred to the software licence which they grant you to install & use the iPlayer (i.e. the T's & C's governing your use of it). These state that content is available within the UK only, so violating that invalidates the software licence.

Nothing to do with the UK TV licence - which, as you say, isn't (currently) required.

The reason usually given by the BBC is that 'for contractual reasons' some of their output is not available outside the UK. While anyone can listen to - for example - a test match commentary on Radio 5 via the internet, the soccer Cup Final and Formula 1 commentaries are not streamed. (Those are examples, I am sure there are other sporting events and probably imbecile things like the Eurovision song contest, from which non UK listeners are spared!)

The BBC (in their iPlayer faqs) does say that it is working on making as much content as possible available for people without a recognisable UK IP. The BBC is frequently true to its word, so it is probably only a matter of time before their producers beat the lawyers into submission. It happened before, when the BBC was badly advised and stripped all radio from the free to air analog satellites: it was almost completely returned within about one year.

Just thought I'd let you know someones pulled the plug on TV Catch-up;
Dear Member

In recent days, TVCatchup has become aware of the Broadcaster's (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five) increasing concerns over the free personal recording functionality that this website offers.

On 15th February, our hosting was terminated without warning and we presume this was at the request of such Broadcasters.

Given that this will no doubt happen again, TVCatchup has therefore voluntarily suspended its services whilst the concerns of the Broadcasters are addressed.

We apologise to all for this temporary interuption to service.

This page will provide a service update as matters progress.
TVCatchup.com
16th February 2008

Thank you Pas 55. Strange though that they were given no warning.

This looks likely to be the application that breaks the ISP flat rate payment model (the following is an excerpt from an analyst report on the first month of the streaming service):

[I]In only its first month of service, iPlayer pushed up ISP costs by 200 per cent, from 6.1p per user to 18.3p per user. This obliges ISPs who are simply BT resellers - and most are - to order more pipes; yet there's no extra income. Remember that this is the low-bandwidth version of iPlayer, not the high resolution, high traffic P2P service, which uses much more bandwidth. And of course, it's early days - we're at the beginning of the iPlayer adoption curve. January's figures involve just 19 minutes of TV per viewer for the month.[/I]

Basically, as UK viewers start watching TV via broadband instead of broadcast, the ISP's are having to carry huge volumes of additional data (with no additional revenues) and this requires most of them to buy additional bandwidth from BT.

So, (and I generalise here for effect) bored/lazy PC users, who can't be bothered to record the live broadcast, decide to watch low resolution, glitch ridden versions of (mainly crappy) TV programs off the web to save them looking up whats on TV. Given the reduced quality of the broadband stream, I can only assume that they aren't even very bothered about the programs they are watching.

The result, assuming that consumers continue to use iPlayer, will likely be everyone having to pay more for their 'unlimited' broadband connection (or the return of metered use).

I just can't understand why anyone thinks its clever to take a well designed, cheap & efficient system ([B]broad[/B]cast via terrestrial/satelite/cable) and try to replace it with [B]narrow[/B]cast of the same content, at inferior quality (and normally displayed on an inferior screen) ... and in the process, swamp the data pipes which provide internet access for people who want to do useful stuff like book travel etc.

Surely it's better to put the onus on the consumer to watch whats on at the scheduled time or press the red button on his PVR to record it if the timing doesn't suit?

I think the BBC and broadcasters in general are shooting themselves in the foot in their headlong charge to embrace the web and look like new media organisations. They're not. They're just peddling their existing passive content to the same user base over a less inefficient and reliable medium; and in the process they're shooting the messenger (ISP)

Pigro, not everyone had a DVD player. I haven't for one. I registered at carchuotv and requested someone a certain programme that another member had recorded. The quality was fine as is the quality from iplayer. (I do wonder if Apple are aware of the name ..... ) Have you yourself actually tried iplayer???

[quote=turtle;83178] iplayer. (I do wonder if Apple are aware of the name ..... ) [/quote]

I think there first name for it was EasyPlayer but some Greek guy did not like the name.

Wonder who he was ..... lol

[quote=turtle;83178]Pigro, not everyone had a DVD player. I haven't for one. [/quote]
We are talking about broadcast TV here. If you mean a DVD recorder (setup so that you can record TV programs direct to DVD discs) then the DVD bit is immaterial to my point ... its just one way of recording video, no different to an old VHS video recorder or a modern hard disc based PVR. If you have none of these then you can aquire a USB Freeview Tuner + PVR for your PC for about £30; or the same functionality in a set top box for about double that.
[quote=turtle;83178]I registered at carchuotv and requested someone a certain programme that another member had recorded. The quality was fine.[/quote]
TVcatchup works by recording the broadcast signal at source (within the company's infrastructure) and then streaming it unaltered (other than compression) to your PC. So, the quality of the recording is that case is fine - however the banner ad's and video advertising that surrounds the picture, and the quality/resolution/contrast/location etc. of the PC monitor that will likely be used to view it, make thge quality of the viewing experience inferior. That may not matter to most users of the service, but it's true. I'd slit my throat before watching a quality drama surrounded by flashing adverts. Moot point anyway ... as per previous posts, their service has been withdrawn because of legal problems.
[quote=turtle;83178]as is the quality from iplayer[/quote]
"fine" is subjective. The original iPlayer works using P2P and the quality is good because you download all the data at leisure before you start to view - so no need to reduce resolution to keep bandwidth usage down. The new streaming version works by streaming data in real time and has a much reduced resolution for that reason. Streaming requires real time bandwidth & servers to do the streaming; offering it to 1000's of users simultaneously requires 1000's of times more bandwidth and 1000's of servers. The picture may still be fine when viewed up close in a small window on a PC with a decent display, but it's nowhere near as good as watching a freeview broadcast on a decent TV. It's cr@ppy when you attempt to watch it full sreen on a 43" Plasma.

[quote=turtle;83178]Have you yourself actually tried iplayer???[/quote]
yes. As I say, the quality is OK for occasional use but I, along with the vast majority of licence payers, have a recorder attached to my TV tuner. This allows me to make a legal and hassle free recording that I don't have to watch within 7 days, I can keep online or archive for ever; I can watch in my lounge with my family on a big screen TV, and which doesn't hog my internet connection while I'm watching it, nor put me at risk of exceeding the "fair usage" conditions that my ISP imposes on data.

The benefit of iPlayer or other services is purely one of convenience: You can forget (or just not bother) to either watch or record programmes that are of interest, and then see them when you want on broadband. I don't deny its useful, it's just full of drawbacks at the infrastructure level and will have a large adverse effect in cost/performance of your broadband connection eventually if it takes hold. it's a flawed model and deserves to crash & burn. The BBC would be better employed lobbying govt. & developing technology to allow HD broadcast over freeview.

[quote=turtle;83190]Regarding your last point. Apple Users cannot download iplayer programmes onto their compputers at this point so then it remains on the server, then by implication does not affect personal isp limits.[/quote]

not yet, though its in the pipeline (and mac users can meantime download a free P2P client and use it to download much more free content that iPlayer will ever offer).

However iPlayer downloads are just a P2P application, and My rant was not about iPlayer P2P, it was about iPlayer streaming video.

I do also happen to dislike the iPlayer P2P implementation - because it steals your own bandwidth without letting you control it in order to give other users content that you've already downloaded - but thats a separate rant.

The use of P2P to allow people to download high quality video content is very different because it's not just restricted to content thats just been broadcast free to air - it includes huge archives of old/rare stuff and also access to amateur/internet only stuff which IS a radical shift to the broadcast paradigm, and a good use of your broadband bandwidth. Further, ISP's can (and already do) "shape" their consumers data traffic such that P2P is restricted during peak hours, so the model is sustainable and will not adversely affect the other customers of the ISP. You can't "shape" streaming video ... unless it can be received at the same speed that it's being streamed/buffered (irrespective of the time of day that the stream is sent), it just doesn't work.

Anyway, I realise that all this is way too "anoraky" for a forum about italy. Carry on streaming away ... but don't complain when your ISP starts increasing your broadband cost, caps your data, or bans access to streaming media altogether!