The BBC, which last August promised to open up its archives for free via the internet, may be taking the first step in a new program that allows users to download television shows to PDAs or burn copies to DVDs. Although the trials for the program will initially only be open to BBC employees, wider trials will follow, ending eventually with a system that will allow BBC subscribers to download all television programs from the previous week using a handy program guide, similar to that used in cable/digital television.
It’s notable that the BBC has claimed their primary impetus to be something other than uncontrollable media piracy:
By launching iMP, the BBC hopes to avoid being left at the mercy of a software giant such as Microsoft, which could try to control the gateway to online television.
