Posted by: tahir
BBC and Microsoft sign agreement - 29/09/2006 08:30
Mark Thompson has been on a fact-finding tour in the US
The BBC has signed an agreement with Microsoft to explore ways of developing its digital services:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5390000.stm
Posted by: g_attrill
Re: BBC and Microsoft sign agreement - 29/09/2006 09:43
My first thought was "yuck, no thanks, the BBC has done just fine up to now thanks", but if it invoves technology transfer that the BBC wouldn't otherwise be able to get then it is possibly a good thing. The one thing I wouldn't want to see is MS profiting from innovation paid for by UK licence-fee payers, but since MS is a profit-making company they will always be looking to gain revenues from whatever they do.
Posted by: tahir
Re: BBC and Microsoft sign agreement - 29/09/2006 15:33
I agree with Peter, the last thing I want is for part of my licence fee going to MS to license stuff like wma dowloads or whatever, what's wrong with mp3 and divx? I thought they'd finally seen the light by moving away from Real Media to mp3 (in a limited way).
Real shame, but I suppose now that their own tech dept is owned by Siemens it was inevitable that something like this would happen.
Posted by: sein
Re: BBC and Microsoft sign agreement - 29/09/2006 16:26
The BBC used to be cool. They had
OGG streaming of radio back in 2002 (
old news), showing their support for open codecs. It seems to be a step backwards now joining with Microsoft.
Posted by: boxer
Re: BBC and Microsoft sign agreement - 29/09/2006 17:02
Change the slogan:"Nation shall speak peace unto nation" to "BBC shall force Gates unto nations"
Posted by: andy
Re: BBC and Microsoft sign agreement - 30/09/2006 05:18
It tends to be in September each year, the R&D department is just up the road from us.
We went to the open day a couple of years ago.
http://www.norman.cx/photos/default.asp_...en%20open%20dayI haven't seen and publicity about it this year though.
We have always found out about the open days through
http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
Posted by: sein
Re: BBC and Microsoft sign agreement - 30/09/2006 06:28
Thanks Andy. I will definately go to an Open Day if they do another one and I find out the date. I've hit a bit of a dead end finding more information online so I will email them soon and see what they say. If I find a date I'll post it up if anyone wants to join me.