Comments on: The BBC common platform debate http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/ Thu, 17 May 2012 13:19:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Permanent web IDs or making good web 2.0 citizens « Derivadow.com http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1648 Permanent web IDs or making good web 2.0 citizens « Derivadow.com Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:49:07 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1648 [...] These are the slides for a presentation I gave a little while ago in Broadcasting House at a gathering of radio types - both BBC and commercial - as part of James Cridland’s mission to “agree on technology, compete on content“. [...] [...] These are the slides for a presentation I gave a little while ago in Broadcasting House at a gathering of radio types – both BBC and commercial – as part of James Cridland’s mission to “agree on technology, compete on content“. [...]

]]> By: Freedom? Open source? Show me how! « Nick Reynolds At Work http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1557 Freedom? Open source? Show me how! « Nick Reynolds At Work Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:46:10 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1557 [...] Marc’s questions are practical challenges to those who think the BBC should open up its [...] [...] Marc’s questions are practical challenges to those who think the BBC should open up its [...]

]]> By: AdrianW http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1500 AdrianW Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:41:46 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1500 hi just to point to a couple of examples where BBC has opened up some of its audience research - when they were commissioned it was to make them open to public dissemination. 1. BBC: Games In The UK http://open.bbc.co.uk/newmediaresearch/2006/01/bbc_uk_games_research.html we hope to shortly publish an update of this study for 2008 players. 2. user motivations in mass participation. http://193.113.58.250/downloads/Participate_WP2.3_Design%20Methods_%20User%20Motivation%20in%20Mass%20Participation%20Presentation_2006.pdf not much but a start. cheers AdrianW hi
just to point to a couple of examples where BBC has opened up some of its audience research – when they were commissioned it was to make them open to public dissemination.

1. BBC: Games In The UK http://open.bbc.co.uk/newmediaresearch/2006/01/bbc_uk_games_research.html

we hope to shortly publish an update of this study for 2008 players.

2. user motivations in mass participation.
http://193.113.58.250/downloads/Participate_WP2.3_Design%20Methods_%20User%20Motivation%20in%20Mass%20Participation%20Presentation_2006.pdf

not much but a start.
cheers
AdrianW

]]> By: links for 2008-07-02 « Derivadow.com http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1496 links for 2008-07-02 « Derivadow.com Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:34:10 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1496 [...] Steve Bowbricks write up of the BBC TechCrunch debate [bowblog] A thoughtful post covering all the major issues discussed. It was a real shame that the event wasn’t better attended - people signed up but didn’t turn up. (tags: bbc techcrunch) [...] [...] Steve Bowbricks write up of the BBC TechCrunch debate [bowblog] A thoughtful post covering all the major issues discussed. It was a real shame that the event wasn’t better attended – people signed up but didn’t turn up. (tags: bbc techcrunch) [...]

]]> By: The Pied Pipes http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1495 The Pied Pipes Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:24:21 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1495 Thanks for the round-up Steve. I think it's an interesting area for debate, but am really struggling with all the talk of calling this a 'platform' for innovation. Platform can mean anything from a technical service to a group of people to a policy to a soapbox, and it's in that thin wash of meaning that most confusion arises for onlookers to this discussion. The particulars that you mention above are where effort is being placed mainly because people actually understand what these items mean: an open code base means a code base; tools that serve a specific meaningful function (the UK blog search idea, for instance would be HUGELY beneficial, and possibly a BBC merit badge) are easy to grasp. An 'Innovation Platform' is not...and I'm not surprised UK entrepreneurs aren't connecting the dots. From where I'm standing, the BBC has made really good strides towards opening up their code base and their content - to an extent that Channel4 has not begun to emulate. The 4IP project could be seen as a 'platform' I suppose, in that it doesn't have a big idea behind it really, but is the launchpad for other people's big ideas. But again, it's a commissioning platform, not any technical or even content service like the BBC could offer, so I don't think it's where this debate should be looking for guidance on improving the technical and content libraries at the BBC. Disclaimer: I'm a C4 bod, and these opinions (clearly) are mine alone. Thanks for the round-up Steve.

I think it’s an interesting area for debate, but am really struggling with all the talk of calling this a ‘platform’ for innovation.

Platform can mean anything from a technical service to a group of people to a policy to a soapbox, and it’s in that thin wash of meaning that most confusion arises for onlookers to this discussion.

The particulars that you mention above are where effort is being placed mainly because people actually understand what these items mean: an open code base means a code base; tools that serve a specific meaningful function (the UK blog search idea, for instance would be HUGELY beneficial, and possibly a BBC merit badge) are easy to grasp. An ‘Innovation Platform’ is not…and I’m not surprised UK entrepreneurs aren’t connecting the dots.

From where I’m standing, the BBC has made really good strides towards opening up their code base and their content – to an extent that Channel4 has not begun to emulate.

The 4IP project could be seen as a ‘platform’ I suppose, in that it doesn’t have a big idea behind it really, but is the launchpad for other people’s big ideas. But again, it’s a commissioning platform, not any technical or even content service like the BBC could offer, so I don’t think it’s where this debate should be looking for guidance on improving the technical and content libraries at the BBC.

Disclaimer: I’m a C4 bod, and these opinions (clearly) are mine alone.

]]> By: Mike Butcher http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1479 Mike Butcher Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:58:10 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1479 Thanks for this thoughtful post Steve and for agreeing to chair the debate. I think the lack of startups to attend may well be down to mutual ignorance about just how much data there is waiting to be released from the BBC (certainly the panelists indicated a lot was coming), plus a total lack of understanding - at least on the evidence of a startup CEO at the event - about how to get to that data or who to even talk to at the BBC. I think this is just the beginning... Thanks for this thoughtful post Steve and for agreeing to chair the debate. I think the lack of startups to attend may well be down to mutual ignorance about just how much data there is waiting to be released from the BBC (certainly the panelists indicated a lot was coming), plus a total lack of understanding – at least on the evidence of a startup CEO at the event – about how to get to that data or who to even talk to at the BBC. I think this is just the beginning…

]]> By: Steve Bowbrick http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1478 Steve Bowbrick Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:42:13 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1478 Lee, it's a good question. The logic is that the BBC constitutes a fund of taxpayer-funded content, technology and community that could and should be put at the disposal of UK Plc. My position is that the industrial era role for the BBC was to inform, educate and entertain and that its 21st Century role should be to enable, engage and (need another verb here). We collectively invest North of 2BN per year in the BBC. Its assets are badly under-utilised. The nation (both business and community) will be able to think of things to with all that stuff if access is provided and encouraged... See what I mean? Lee, it’s a good question. The logic is that the BBC constitutes a fund of taxpayer-funded content, technology and community that could and should be put at the disposal of UK Plc. My position is that the industrial era role for the BBC was to inform, educate and entertain and that its 21st Century role should be to enable, engage and (need another verb here). We collectively invest North of 2BN per year in the BBC. Its assets are badly under-utilised. The nation (both business and community) will be able to think of things to with all that stuff if access is provided and encouraged… See what I mean?

]]> By: Lee http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1476 Lee Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:01:35 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1476 Hi Steve, i'm following this with interest, and unfortunately wasn't able to attend the event last week. There are a couple of issues I genuinely don't understand though. Why should the BBC give away either research material or code to the business community? I'm all for sharing content with the wider community, including business, but it's not for the taxpayer to provide free research and actual code to the private sector - i'm keen to understand why is this being suggested? Anyway, i'll continue to follow this subject with interest and look forward to your next update. Hi Steve, i’m following this with interest, and unfortunately wasn’t able to attend the event last week.

There are a couple of issues I genuinely don’t understand though. Why should the BBC give away either research material or code to the business community? I’m all for sharing content with the wider community, including business, but it’s not for the taxpayer to provide free research and actual code to the private sector – i’m keen to understand why is this being suggested?

Anyway, i’ll continue to follow this subject with interest and look forward to your next update.

]]> By: TechCrunch UK » Blog Archive » Live Blog: The TechCrunch BBC Debate http://bowblog.com/2008/06/30/the-bbc-common-platform-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1475 TechCrunch UK » Blog Archive » Live Blog: The TechCrunch BBC Debate Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:58:30 +0000 http://bowblog.com/?p=1197#comment-1475 [...] [Update: Post event, Steve Bowbrick wrote it up here as well] [...] [...] [Update: Post event, Steve Bowbrick wrote it up here as well] [...]

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