Date   : Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:57:46 +0200
From   : rick@... (Rick Murray)
Subject: OT bbc money,

Tim Matthews wrote:

> the BBC couldn't accept an 'overseas licence' if they wanted to,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8270663.stm

I won't get into a discussion of whether or not iPlayer should be 
"free". I will simply wonder aloud if it was made a pay scheme, if it 
would be considered permitting anybody to become a subscriber? Surely it 
would fall out of the domain of "television licence" and into 
"subscription service"?

Tell you what, though. I don't believe "micropayments" is viable. How 
often have you seen places refusing to accept card payments for less 
than 'x'? It would be better if you could purchase credit, perhaps 
measured in minutes or hours? Obviously with a bit of smart flexibility 
so if your credit runs out ten minutes before the end of the film, it 
will let you watch to the end! In this way, you could make larger more 
manageable payments. It would also help those of us with cross-currency 
issues. :-)


> Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received.

HELLO! All your base are belong to us. <grin>

I pity the sorry sod that "monitors" emails. My god, would your sanity 
survive the tedium looking for that one "juicy" message?

{way off-topic, so far it's in danger of suffering a signed integer 
wraparound to become extremely on-topic!}
   I'll tell you what I'd LOVE to know. You know those really stupid
   phone-in competitions like:
     What Irish clone group is co-managed by Ronan Keating:
       a. WestLife
       b. ParkLife
       c. PondLife
   How many people get it WRONG?
   That's what I'd like to know.
{end.}


Best wishes,

Rick.


-- 
Rick Murray, eeePC901 & ADSL WiFI'd into it, all ETLAs!
BBC B: DNFS, 2 x 5.25" floppies, EPROM prog, Acorn TTX
E01S FileStore, A3000/A5000/RiscPC/various PCs/blahblah...