Are we about to fund the BBC across Europe?

European Union plans could mean that the BBC's iPlayer service is available to everyone across Europe - despite the fact that they will pay nothing towards funding it. The issue has arisen as part of the European Commissions proposals for a 'digital single market'. The idea is to allow Brits to carry on watching their favourite TV shows when they travel in the EU. The question is how they will stop non-Brits from using the service.

The rules have the best of intentions, as they are meant to iron out the barriers to using online goods and services in Europe, in order to boost the market. The change that would affect catch-up services is the move to reduce the differences between national copyright laws. The EC said in a statement: "The Commission wants to ensure that users who buy films, music or articles at home can also enjoy them while travelling across Europe."

The Commission issued a video featuring EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, who explained: "Europe needs to change to become competitive again. Fragmentation and barriers within our single market are holding digital back." "You can drive from Tallinn to Turin without once showing your passport, but you can't stream your favourite TV shows from home once you get there."
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Concerns

However, there are concerns that some of the suggestions could have unintended consequences. There's the question, for example, of how to allow iPlayer access to Brits on the move, without providing the content entirely free to the EU. At the moment it's easy for the BBC to block users from other countries based on their location, but this would no longer work.

The BBC makes money from selling programmes to overseas territories, and controls distribution to provide content that is tailored to each country, so could see its income and reputation damaged if it can be accessed free of charge through iPlayer.

It's not just the BBC that would be affected either: in the UK there are several players who will need to digest the implications, including Netflix, Sky Go and ITV Player.

Should we be worried?

It's worth making it clear at this stage that this is just a proposal. There is a long way to go before any law is brought in across Europe or the UK. The wording is also vague enough to raise questions about how much change will eventually be enacted. The Commission has proposed an end to 'unjustified' geoblocking - where sites are blocked or redirected depending on your location. The use of the word 'unjustified' offers some wiggle room.

In the interim, there will be an opportunity for broadcasters to develop and implement technology which will restrict who can access programmes in a more sophisticated way - enabling Brits on the move to access iPlayer, while ensuring it is not available for free to other European nationals.

The BBC said in a statement: "We note the Commission's interest in making services more portable to UK users while temporarily travelling in Europe, and will begin work to look at the technical and legislative implications."

So while this morning's Express is warning that we will be spending our taxes on funding TV for Europeans, another way to see this is the opportunity to watch your favourite shows while you are on holiday, with the faith that the broadcasters have a vested interest in finding a way to develop the technology to make it work.

But what do you think? Are you worried? Let us know in the comments.

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