Why does iplayer need DRM?

RomanNose · 2 Feb 2012 at 18:52

I have always been annoyed that we have DRM on iplayer. Yes you can download to mobile devices, but the quality is not the same as the desktop. Why can't the beeb just allow DRM free downloads in broadcast quality? For one, the pirate uploaders will always be able to record from TV and this is what they always have done. I don't see the point in this stupid DRM and it makes me feel like a criminal when I have to demux and reencode just so that I can get decent quality video on my tablet.
So GD please tell me why they have this unnecessary DRM?

RomanNose · 2 Feb 2012 at 19:00

Why can't they just allow download for content they have produced then?

RomanNose · 2 Feb 2012 at 19:11

LordSplodge said:
Because its too much effort to separate BBC produced content and make that DRM free plus if they only offered BBC produced content all you'd get is Eastenders.

Just strip the DRM off if it bothers you - it's not hard.

Any command line software that does the job? My encoding system is headless.
Bleh, get iplayer is decent.

RomanNose · 2 Feb 2012 at 19:18

LordSplodge said:
I used to use some terminal script for OSX but I just stream everything now so don't have it installed.

I remember that, it was some ruby script right? I know about that, but it was mobile quality. get-iplayer is neat, but I have a hacked foxsat and a htpc so it's kind of redundant. I only wanted to watch the estate as I completely missed the last two episodes. Not on any of my boxes

.

RomanNose · 3 Feb 2012 at 07:33

Glaucus said:
What an odd question. Drm on Iplayer is fine and needed. It's for timeshifting like a VCR, it's not to download and keep their entire catalogue.

Why?
Is it bad to be able to watch TV shows years after they have aired? What's the problem with it? PVRs have this functionality, so I don't know why you think Iplayer shouldn't.
Anyway it sucks that companies still insist their material comes with DRM. The only DRM that is good is STEAM, which basically only stops pirates being in legit servers.

RomanNose · 3 Feb 2012 at 12:25

If it was criminal, it would just be far too costly to enforce. And piracy would adapt, people would use a offshore vpn.

RomanNose · 3 Feb 2012 at 12:29

Glaucus said:
Of cours it's bad, why would you buy. They don't even stream shows years after they only stay on Iplayer a few weeks. Pvrs don't really have that function. They have relatively small hard drives and you have no real option but to delete.

1) They could have a 30 day limit on when you can download
2) most peoples. Pvr is the same size as their hdd. I.e about 500g. Only self builders have massive storage sizes.