BBC plans to lock viewers into Microsoft monopoly

• Monday, 05 February 2007

The UK's Open Source trade association has criticised the BBC's plans to limit access to their on-demand television services to Microsoft Windows. The Open Source Consortium (OSC) believes the plans are anti-competitive and will use public money to lock viewers into the technologies of a repeatedly convicted monopolist.

A report from the BBC Trust states that services will be unavailable to a minority of consumers who neither use Microsoft software nor have an up-to-date version of the Windows operating system. The OSC believes that, if the BBC were to proceed with its plans, license fees will be spent promoting a single IT company over its competitors - a position which some observers claim will breach the broadcaster's charter.

OSC Chief Executive, Iain Roberts said: "Our members are competing hard in a fast-moving market and winning new customers every day. Seeing their licence fees going to advertise one of their largest competitors is not acceptable, especially from the BBC which has a duty to be unbiased. We want the BBC to reject any moves that restrict consumer choice."

Notes to the Editors :

The Open Source Consortium is the trade body representing UK Open Source services companies.

For more information visit www.opensourceconsortium.org .

The BBC Trust on-demand services consultation paper is available from the BBC website.

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