[English] O/t: DEECD and ABC iView video

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

This week, Mike D'Monte from school ISP Netspace writes,

> DEECD have released their long anticipated, 'Request for Quotation
> for Internet Access and Additional Services'. The Department invited
> the four Whole-of-Victorian-Government Internet Service Providers (of
> which Netspace is one) to respond to a detailed list of requirements.
> 
> These responses were submitted last week. The Department believes that
> they will be in a position to make an announcement in September, so you
> should hear from them soon..

And one would urge our Department require ABC feeds to be free to schools.

These 5 new ABC iView broadband streams (free with iiNet) should be first  
rate resources, locally sourced, with fine live-ed-video-channel potential 

One would urge our DEECD require that ABC iView be free for all Vic schools

--
Aunty puts five new channels online

Miriam Steffens, July 24, 2008 http://www.theage.com.au

ABC viewers can now watch television online, with the launch of an 
internet platform that streams five new ABC channels onto computer screens.

The service, called ABC iView, enables viewers to catch up on some popular 
programs they might have missed and to watch the latest news bulletins.

It also has a children's cartoon channel, a documentary channel and ABC 
Arts, with At The Movies, Painting Australia and other programs.

The digital push is designed to increase the ABC's audience. Its managing 
director, Mark Scott, said he wants to triple the broadcaster's number of 
TV stations and radio services over the next 12 years to increase 
Australian content and cement Aunty's place in the digital media age.

The ABC's head of television, Kim Dalton, said: "As Australians spend more 
time online and increasingly get some of their entertainment and 
information via broadband, we want the ABC to be there."

The network's existing stations, ABC1 and ABC2, are not streamed online, 
and it previously offered downloads of only some of its most popular 
programs.

iView, which is modelled on the BBC's iPlayer service, is available to 
households with a high-speed broadband connection.

The site delivers full-screen content through an in-built video player, so 
users can watch the channels or select programs and create their own TV 
schedule.

The service is free, but there are hidden costs. Program streaming guzzles 
up internet bandwidth, so viewers could breach their download limits and 
be charged extra fees by internet service providers.

Mr Dalton said the ABC was "very aware" of the problem and would warn 
users of the file sizes they were about to watch.

He said the broadcaster was trying to convince internet providers to 
exclude ABC channels from download limits and by last night iiNet had 
agreed.
--

Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, australia


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