Why TV isn't like chocolate There's no doubt that, thanks to the internet, the world's become a much smaller place. Except when it comes to television, that is...

I'm finding it more and more frustrating that, in this day and age, someone living in Britain can't enjoy the same TV shows as someone living in the States - at least not quite as soon, and in quite the same way. If you're reading this is the USA, clicking here will bring up the latest episode of CSI, in broadband quality - for free. If you're reading this anywhere else, you'll be politely told that you're not allowed to watch. Naturally it cuts both ways, and the BBC's on-demand shows are blocked to anyone outside the UK.

Of course, there are plenty things I can do in America that I can't do in the UK. I can't buy Mountain Dew and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in Britain, as much as I'd like to. But it's not quite the same thing, is it? This is like having the Mountain Dew and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups right in front of me in the supermarket, but locked in a glass case.

Obviously TV is big business, and this is all about rights. If NBC was allowed to let someone in the UK to watch the latest episode of Heroes on their site, then they might not watch it when BBC2 finally starts showing it later this year. But - and here's the thing - UK channels aren't even allowed to make big-name American shows available for free online.

That's the reality - but is it really an excuse? Isn't this just a case of old media holding back new media? There are, of course, numerous ways to circumvent the rules (and naturally, by this, I mean getting friends in the US to send me tapes...) But I'd say it's time for a total rethink of how shows are distributed - beacuse, in reality, not much has changed since the days when people were watching first-run episodes of Bonanza.

Labels: TV

¶ 10:45 AM 0 comments