BBC and ISPs locked in row

The BBC and internet service providers are embroiled in a row about who should pay for the extra network costs incurred by the broadcaster’s video-on-demand service, the iPlayer.

A leading ISP boss has accused the BBC of not understanding the issues involved and said that the BBC should shoulder some of the costs for providing internet content over the network.

Simon Gunter from Tiscali, one of the biggest ISPs in Britain, talked of introducing a "BBC tax" to pay for the extra capacity required to deal with traffic from on-demand services.

Figures released by the industry regulator Ofcom say it will cost ISPs in the region of £830m to pay for the services like iPlayer and Kangaroo – the soon to be released video player from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

Unlike Tiscali, BT has so far refused to single out the BBC. A spokesperson for BT told Web User that: "BT monitors the network very carefully to ensure that we are always ahead of the game.

"In addition, we are investing heavily in the core network to ensure that capacity does not become an issue in the future," BT continued.

The BBC launched its catch-up TV service at the beginning of the year and in its first month one million people downloaded more than 3.5 million programmes from the iPlayer.

ISPs are warning the increased demand could lead to "gridlock".

For its part the BBC says that upgrades to the network are the responsibility of the ISPs.

Ashley Highfield, head of future media and technology at the BBC, conceded that the iPlayer "may be putting extra strain on the , it would be a bit odd for the BBC to fund such an upgrade".

Do you have any sympathy for the ISPs or do you think the BBC is right to say they have no part to play in funding the internet infrastructure? Have your say in the Web User Forums.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
www.tiscali.co.uk
www.ofcom.org.uk
www.bt.com