The BBC is the content provider much of the time......

No it's you that's not getting my point.

If I rob a bank, knock an old lady over and nick her bag or download a piece of hacked software, then irrespective of the fact I've broken the law I would feel it was morally wrong.

In this case as I'm permitted to see the programme at home as I've paid the licence fee then I don't find it morally wrong to use a proxy if I'm on holiday. I couldn't give a toss about the BBCs contractual relationships, and incidentally being civil law until someone is successfully prosecuted then it's not absolutely certain that it contravenes anything, as the performing rights people have found out to their cost several times.
And before you claim computer misuse is an offence, using a proxy is not an offence and to prove misuse you would have to first bring a successful case in the civil courts.

The real answer is quite simple, make people subscribe to the site and part of the sign in process uses the persons licence number, this could apply to all UK TV channels, that way restrictions would be unnecessary.

When was the last time you looked at the credits ?

Even on good old Radio 4 there are an ever increasing number of programmes that end "this was an X production for Radio 4".

The Communications Act 2003 requires the BBC to independently commission the production of a minimum of 25% of their programming. There is a 50% in-house production guarantee and then the rest is up for grabs ..... and its very unlikely the outside companies are only producing their minimum 25% as they will in all likelihood be a lot more competitive and a lot quicker at delivering the goods as they won't have the internal bureaucracy hoops to jump through.

By the time you remove the news, questiontime and all that jazz from the 50%, you're likely left with less than 25% of original innovative content being produced by the BBC themselves (mostly the big documentaries they're good at doing).

The BBC's internal capacity has also been reduced to align with the 50%, and they have publicly stated that they are committed to treating the independent 25% "as a floor and not as a ceiling".

Sure "50%" might be much of the time. But so is the large percentage of independent productions. And what percentage of your viewing is made up of BBC produced programming ?

Sky is strange in some respects. I live in RoI, and have (legal) Sky. BBC channels are available via EPG, so presumably the BBC have authorised content distribution with no restrictions. Channel 4 and subsiuary channels are also in the main list, although for some programmes you get a blank screen saying that the programme is not available (usually US imported shows). I can also (via freely available information) add ITV regional channels and Channel 5. These are not blocked by the viewing card, so presumably ITV are happy. Yet I not view BBC / ITV players here in the RoI. I belive they can also be seen on free to view satellite - certainly a holiday home I rented in Donegal could see UK television on the free satellite box a few year ago - along with some channels I had to be careful my kids didn't select :E

The reverse situation re RTE is the opposite. UK viewing cards cannot pick up RTE (even via the add channels menu), but RTE player and live viewing IS available via the internet - although the ad breaks are blocked. I believe Sky asked RTE for stupid money to add to the UK cards. Hence the large black market in Irish boxes and viewing cards with the diaspora in the UK.

MD

The situation re BBC/ITV in the RoI was long established back in analog days with some cable networks (especially around Dublin and Cork) relaying the Northern Ireland services
I think the logic was that people near the border were going to be able to get the signal anyway, so the rest of Ireland may as well have it as well if anyone was prepared to transmit it....
Who did the Irish cable service? Was it RTE or a commercial company?

Milo,

Definitely not RTE, definitely a different 3rd party or parties.

SD

Milo

I know that. The point I was making was the inconsistency of approach to Sky (and cable) in allowing access and internet where it is blocked.

Cable is provided by UPC and Magnet.

MD