The Queen’s Palaces: Holyroodhouse

[Lime]

There was a rather well dressed highlander on the Beeb last night talking about Culloden in “The Queen’s Palaces: Holyroodhouse”, some historical background on Bonnie Prince Charlie, James I/IV, Mary Queen of Scots and some good close-ups of George IV’s dirk… if you will pardon the expression! If anyone gets the chance it is well worth the watch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...Holyroodhouse/

[Dale-of-Cedars]

I has a sad...

"Currently BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only..."

Looking on YouTube... nope, only previews...

[artificer]

I has a sad...

"Currently BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only, but all BBC iPlayer Radio programmes are available to you. Why?

If you are in the UK and see this message please read this advice.

Go to the BBC iPlayer Radio homepage"

Looking on YouTube...

BBC's youtube channel blocks most of it's feature and full length content from those not already in the UK as well.

ith:

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Now I has a happy - proxy servers are your friends!

Although a little complicated until you figure it out...

[English Bloke]

... Why?

The BBC is a national broadcasting organisation rather than an independent, commercial one. There is no advertising during programmes to pay the bills (it's bliss I tell you).

All programming is paid for by the UK viewers who watch it, based on a licence which must be purchased to operate a device capable of receiving television signals (including t'interweb). The fee which is just short of £150 is payed annually or by monthly subscription. If you own a tele, you have to pay the fee (unless you're over 75) Total amount of licence fees raised in 2009/10 was £3.45 billion.

I assume that the feeling amongst those who distribute the material is, if you don't live in UK, there is no way to recoup the money, so you don't get to watch the programmes. I suppose it's to avoid the uproar that would ensue if hard pressed Britons were made to fork out while the rest of the world looks on for free.

The BBC do run a World Service and have stations in other countries (eg. BBC America) where BBC programming is repeated but I'm not sure if all these are advert free. I've watched the World Service in Turkey and it appears to be mainly News with some terrible sitcoms and obligatory soaps in the evenings, although that was a while ago.

[English Bloke]

Now I has a happy - proxy servers are your friends!

Although a little complicated until you figure it out...

Mind you... there are work arounds if you want to err... "borrow" the content.

[Jock Scot]

Without trying to rub too much salt into the wounds of those outwith the UK, it was/is well worth a watch.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Many BBC programs are "content blocked" outside of the UK because the Beeb is protecting its overseas sales markets, a lucrative source of revenue once programs have aired in The Mother Country.

Approximately 50% of the cost to produce "The Queen's Palaces" will be recouped within one year by the sale of the program to broadcasters in the USA, such as The Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

[macwilkin]

The BBC do run a World Service and have stations in other countries (eg. BBC America) where BBC programming is repeated but I'm not sure if all these are advert free. I've watched the World Service in Turkey and it appears to be mainly News with some terrible sitcoms and obligatory soaps in the evenings, although that was a while ago.

Slightly OT: That's a very apt description of BBC America -- terrible sitcoms and obligatory soaps -- no classic "britcoms" at all.

BBC America is about the biggest waste of money (in terms of my Dish bill!)

T.

[Phil]

There were certainly a few treasures on display, George IV's dirk amongst them and more to see than the usual tour around the palace. I'm not sure about some of the historical perspective which seemed to concentrate on the usual suspects - Mary Stuart, Prince Charlie etc. - but interesting nevertheless.