05.31.10
The BBC and Netflix Enter Microsoft’s DRM Bedroom, Again
Summary: Media companies are allowing themselves to become tools by which a monopoly abuser gains more power over their audience
THE BBC’s service to Microsoft [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] is not too shocking, especially when one considers the intersection with Microsoft UK staff [1, 2, 3, 4]. We sometimes call it “MSBBC”, along the lines of MSNBC.
“BBC partners with Microsoft for new social iPlayer,” tells us this new post from a Microsoft boosting Web site. There is more information here:
BBC And Microsoft Team Up For A New Video On-Demand Service: iPlayer
The BBC has announced that it has struck a deal with Microsoft and has launched the beta version of a new video on demand service: iPlayer.
The last time the BBC worked with Microsoft it managed to exclude Apple Mac OS X and GNU/Linux users. It also ended up paying outrageous amounts of money for some DRM deal with a convicted monopolist which delivered bad service (the BBC ended up running to Adobe for help).
If the BBC is trying to make itself look like more of a joke, then it’s definitely succeeding. Check out this new article from MSNBC. They actually inject disclosures into the depths of articles:
(Msnbc.com is a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC Universal.)
So why is NBC Universal involved with Microsoft in the first place? Microsoft is clearly not in the news business, is it? This whole MSNBC situation is one that we last covered two weeks ago. The BBC is falling into a similar trap.
In other new, “Netflix Spreads DRM Evil With Microsoft,” says this headline.
Netflix has selected Microsoft PlayReady technology and the Protected Interoperable File Format (PIFF) for use in new Netflix ready devices and applications.
The corrupt Samsung has just done something similar and this move from Netflix is covered in:
- Netflix chooses Microsoft PlayReady and PIFF format
- Netflix goes with Microsoft PlayReady DRM for upcoming streaming devices
- Netflix standardizes on PlayReady
- News Round-Up
- Netflix Selects New Microsoft DRM
- Netflix Rides Stream to Microsoft
- Netflix Falls Despite Microsoft Tie-Up for Internet Viewing
Here is the press release. They actually brag about it. It’s not passive acceptance. █
“DRM is the future.”
–Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO
williami said,
May 31, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Netflix embracing DRM more? That’s not good news… Even worse, it seems like they are completly ignoring their Linux-using subscribers (which would make up quite a few people), and making the only option for them to resort to MoonDark, which is total crap and depends on the patent trap that is Mono.
Mikko Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 12:16 am
one big problem is that moonfail doesn’t have drm
(ms doesn’t allow their drm outside windows)
Dr. Roy Schestowitz said,
May 31, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Someone recently told me that Microsoft had hired from Netflix and/or vice versa. Maybe someone can do research into that because I never saw hard evidence.