BBC reportedly blocking open-source access to iPlayer content

The BBC's iPlayer streaming video service has become problematic for users who want to use open-source software to download content from the popular BBC website.

Tech news website The Register reports that the problems are due to "a verification layer that closes the door on open source implementations of RTMP (real-time messaging protocol) streaming", and that the service was implemented just four days after iPlayer framework provider Adobe said that it had released new ways for content owners to guard their copyrights.

The Guardian's Jack Schofield posits that the state broadcaster made the move in order to cut down on the use of third-party software to download iPlayer videos, which are supposed to be time-limited to seven days. However, The Register notes that this could backfire on the BBC, as the use of iPlayer downloaders appears to be unaffected by the new security feature.

The BBC's web content has been much in the news of late, as the broadcaster prepares to implement a site-wide overhaul of its entire web property, bringing a new look and improved interoperability between different types of content on its site.