Talks are underway between YouTube and BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation, that could see shows like Top Gear and Torchwood become available on the site in their entirety.It's not clear how realistic this prospect is, however. Surely the BBC would start by putting content for an open-ended period on its own iPlayer - and even that would, I believe, require new agreements with rights-holders (including writers, c/o the Guild).
If the new highly anticipated deal is struck, viewers will be able to for the first time access former BBC shows in full, as opposed to short clips, for an open ended period.
Update: see comments below from Gail Renard, Chair of the Guild's TV Committee
FROM THE CHAIR OF THE TV COMMITTEE
ReplyDeleteThe Guild is in constant talks with BBC and BBC Worldwide about new commercial usages for our work. New markets are good news because that should mean more money for writers. The main thing is that we're paid fairly and the Guild is making sure that we will be.
iPlayer and its 7 day catch-up service are slightly different because that's part of the BBC's Public Service committment, and not commercial usage. But everything gets paid for somewhere, albeit in different places.
Thanks Gail. Didn't mean to imply that it would be a bad thing - just that the Telegraph was perhaps getting ahead of itself.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay, Tom. I'm just surprised that the Telegraph has the time to report on anything else right now!
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