Free access to BBC broadband content

[LesD]

I have a further question about, "Free access to BBC broadband content"

I have asked before and got stuck when asked for a username and password when trying to access this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/multicast/ 

This was the link that I was directed on the IDNet Home page under Services, Broadbband BBC Serivces.

Today having followed the Broadbband BBC Serivces link again I found another link that I had not noticed before namely:

www.bbc.co.uk/info/channels/iplayer.shtml

and used it to view some trailers and the like with no problem at all. 

Great I thought but I have watched on-line video before and I wondered about the size of the downloads so I took a look in my Content.IE5 folders here:

C:\Documents and Settings\Les\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\

and sure enough there were the flash video files I had been viewing complete with their .flv extensions. 

As I only watched for a short time, although there were half a dozen or so of these files, the biggest was only just over a MegaByte.  Now these files have been downloaded to my hard disk drive so my question is this, do they count toward the 5 GB download that is included with my Home Lite package or are they somehow exempt because they came from a BBC website? 

If so which BBC sites does this apply to or should I really be asking are there any that it does not apply to?

[Lance]

Any data downloaded over your connection counts towards your download allowence.

In your first link, the username and password issue for multicast tv is because you are not a participant of the trial. However, the multicast radio is open to all and works as long as your hardware supports it.

It is probably worth pointing out that the BBC iplayer is totally different and seperate from the multicast content. The reason IDNet flag it up is because they are one of a few ISPs that are peered with the BBC and are able to offer the multicast content.

Hope this helps 

[LesD]

Hi Lance,

Thanks for the answer.

I can't say I am surprised as I thought that had to be the way of things.

I remain perplexed, however, by what IDNet mean by this statement:

"Free access to BBC broadband content"

that I see on this webpage:

http://www.idnet.net/solutions/homelite.jsp

[Rik]

They don't charge you for accessing the site, they do charge you for downloads, Les. As it requires peering, ISPs have been known to charge extra for the access.

[LesD]

ISPs have been known to charge extra for the access.

Ah I have not met this one before  but now I see what it is all about!