Ofcom Blocks the BBC’s HD DRM Plans

The regulator, Ofcom, has blocked plans by the BBC to increase the level of Digital Rights Management (or DRM) used for the upcoming HD broadcasts on the Freeview platform.

The reasoning behind the move being blocked is down to the potential issues relating to ‘fair use’, i.e. being able to record it to set top recorders for watching later. However the BBC said “it remains commited to the launch of HD on Freeview” so they will have to think about their plans again for the platform.

This does not stop the BBC amending their plans and introducing some form of DRM in the future, but it delays it for now. There is limited time to get the plans sorted however, as Freeview plans to launch its first HD service during December from the Winter Hill transmitter which covers the Granada region (North West England).