Re: [Swprograms] Links to info on BBC streaming changes and effort to Restore Internet feeds

[Steven Clift <1radionewstech@xxxxxxxxx>]

Have any UK folks asked their MPs for to launch a parliamentary inquiry?

Or contacted parliamentary candidates to get their views? http://yournextmp.com

FYI - I started the BBC for All Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbcradioforall/

Note the collection of Internet device users forum topics:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbcradioforall/permalink/797552173631980/

I've been testing the HLS streams with ffmpeg within my http://1radionews.com app. I've put the two global lower bit rate streams to the far right if you swipe over on my free version. They are better in terms of "skipping" on wi-fi, but still pretty tough on 4G/mobile.

They swapped over Radio Scotland et al from Windows Media last. The quality between lower bitrate Windows and the former AAC+ streams and the bigger mono and dull sounding 128KB Shoutcast stream is enormous. In general on my app I pick the AAC+ streams at the lowest bitrate I can find because they start almost immediately and sound great.

If the BBC as a trendsetter leads us toward essentially needing a separate radio (make that app) for each public broadcaster around the world, the big brands will dominate and very few will scan the virtual dial and discover alternative options.Â

I am OK with commercial stations trying to lock people in and losing listeners, but anything government funded or license fee based should be as fundamentally open and accessible as possible. If my government supported radio stations in Minnesota tried to lock themselves away I'd be at the legislature working on law changes that say you can't do that and accept public funding at the same time.

Cheers,

Steven Clift

On Thu, Mar 12, 2015 at 4:30 PM, Rob de Santos <rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

For listeners to the BBC you have probably noticed that many of the streams no longer work or are unreliable. Listen Again (on-demand) listening has been crippled. This is a result of changes the BBC has made, mostly without warning dropping services dependent on Windows Media (WMA) and Shoutcast (AAC). Options for those who listen on anything other than an iPad, iPhone, or Pure radio are limited. Rather than recount all of the technical details, I am posting links to what you can do and how you can help the efforts to remedy this situation.

Â

For those concerned about the BBC streaming changes here are some links:

Â

Change.org petition:

http://www.change.org/p/the-bbc-trust-and-the-bbc-director-general-restore-aac-audio-and-listen-again-indefinitely-for-internet-radio-devices-2

or

http://tinyurl.com/nwzfy5o

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My note on this at CQ:Â

http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2015/02/bbc-unplugs-millions.html

Â

Internet Radio forum threads on BBC:

http://iradioforum.net/forum/index.php?board=11.0

Â

BBC Radio for All Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbcradioforall/

Â

The BBC blog posts on this topic and the 1300+ almost universally critical comments:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/internet/entries/28dfd220-7ca1-3683-ac16-3938cfb4b882

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/internet/entries/977a1954-658f-4fb2-a23c-71680c49882f

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/internet/entries/2ff95543-7547-4b2d-9305-563428fb74f5

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/internet/entries/234a65f0-89c1-489c-b6e9-55d2de932e53

Â

The BBC news article on the controversy (pretty much a recycle of the blog statements):

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31487515

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The Guardian article on the controversy:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2015/mar/05/new-internet-radio-listen-bbc-stations

or

http://tinyurl.com/kd3prxu

Â

For those more technically inclined:

Â

Slimdevices forum workaround for Logitech devices (requires install of Logitech Media Server):

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?103312-BBCiPlayer-plugin-a-guick-fix-guide

Â

Minimserver workaround for some Reciva devices (does not work on all):

http://iradioforum.net/forum/index.php?topic=1868

Â

Â

--

-Rob de Santos, K8RKD

Horizons (Trends in Technology) Columnist

Contributing Editor

CQ Magazine

Twitter: @shuttleman58

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