Good New for Mac Users? BBC Adds content to YouTube


Mac User is heralding it as good news for Mac Users, but I’m not convinced. The BBC has reached an agreement to add BBC and BBC Worldwide Channels to YouTube. At first, that may sound great, but read this excerpt from the article:

The non-exclusive partnership will create branded BBC channels on YouTube, operating under separate BBC and BBC Worldwide agreements. The deal is part of a drive from the BBC to bring new audiences to its proposed iPlayer, and to secure commercial revenue via BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary that supplements its licence fee income.

‘This ground-breaking partnership between the BBC and YouTube is fantastic news for our audiences,’ said BBC Director-General Mark Thompson. ‘The partnership provides both a creative outlet for a range of short-form content from BBC programme makers and the opportunity to learn about new forms of audience behaviour. It’s essential that the BBC embraces new ways of reaching wider audiences with non-exclusive partnerships such as these.’

“short-form content” – that doesn’t sound like full episodes to me…and even if it is, YouTube is not known for being good quality. Heck, most of the videos on YouTube are so low rez, they’re barely watchable…certainly not a way you’d want to watch a full length episode of Doctor Who.

I think our UK readers still need to sending the BBC their thoughts on the fact that the BBC’s player is going to be Windows only. This YouTube agreement is not an adequate solution, in my opinion.


Kossi Adzo

Kossi Adzo is a technology enthusiast and digital strategist with a fervent passion for Apple products and the innovative technologies that orbit them. With a background in computer science and a decade of experience in app development and digital marketing, Kossi brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the Apple Gazette team.

One Comment

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  1. This service has nothing to do with iPlayer, the upcoming watch-again service. Additionally, it has not been confirmed that iPlayer will be Windows only. There’s currently a public consultation and the BBC Trust have stated that the service must be open and platform independant.