That’ll fool ‘em
By Mark Tennent in Reader
Posted in utilities, Internet on May 8, 2008 at 11:36 am
Brits living abroad usually pine for something from home, often a specific consumable such as Marmite, pickled onion flavoured Monster Munch, Earl Grey tea or a favourite marmalade. Aussies will kill for the last jar of Vegemite, a pale imitation of the real McCoy, even if the canny Kiwi’s have better taste and export an antipodean Marmite to Australia in a bid to re-educate their palates.
It’s the same with TV shows. Dr Who and Torchwood, for example, have fans around the world who are itching to see the latest series as soon as possible, even if the BBC will show them locally eventually. So why have the BBC restricted iPlayer access to only UK-based viewers?
It’s not as if it is impossible to get round this restriction. Slingbox and CyTV can re-transmit live TV anywhere the Internet reaches, ignoring any cross-border copyright restrictions. Even the advertisements look interesting in a different language and some are far more racy than the staid UK and US ones.
Mike loves Nigella
As one ex-pat living in America has told me: “My American pal Mike loves the British adverts. If he sees an ad. for Marmite/Tescos/Nigela Lawson, he’s going to take far more note than a Brit because it’s for something exotic and foreign to him. But if he sees an ad. for HSBC international banking, which they usually show to us ‘international viewers’, Mike is going to ignore it. If we are tuning in to watch something British try and sell us something British
Rated: 100% (2 votes)
Loading ...Comment by Jacques Daviault - May 10, 2008 on 9:08 pm
I know someone who’d like the proxy server manager… if you please. I’m also someone who revels in all things Torchwood (read: Gwen) and Dr. Who, and is forced to see the episodes months after they run in the U.K. even if our CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) co-produces both series. Well, normally I’d be forced to wait, but I have a British TV pusher who feeds this junkie. We’ve made sure that he knows we’re appreciative. I’m looking forward to trying this proxy server manager… so send away Mr. Tennent!
Comment by Tony - June 25, 2008 on 1:46 pm
yes please, it will be a nice supplement to eyetv
Comment by - June 25, 2008 on 2:00 pm
Tony, I’ve contacted the developer and asked him to send you the latest version. Let me know if it doesn’t arrive promptly..
Comment by Marc Nield - August 21, 2008 on 5:39 pm
I wasnt going to resort to this, but now that the BBC have restricted access to the Listen Again programmes (notably my staple, 5 Live Breakfast), I am left with little choice but to ask for a copy of the proxy server software.
Hopefully it is still available?
Thank you!
Marc
Comment by - August 22, 2008 on 7:43 am
Hi Marc I’ve passed your request on. The reports I’ve had is that it is very good.
Comment by Philip - September 17, 2008 on 6:54 pm
can i get this proxy tool too please help
Comment by - September 18, 2008 on 9:57 am
Hi Philip. I’ve passed your request to the developer who should be in touch shortly.
Comment by James Pillar - September 21, 2008 on 12:47 am
Hi Mark…if this works it’s the best news. please send me the info if still possible!?
Comment by Derrick - October 12, 2008 on 3:45 pm
Hi Mark,
This seems to be a great idea for ex pats.
Please could you forward me the relevant details.
Thanks.
Comment by - October 16, 2008 on 9:34 am
Hi Derrick
Let me know if your software doesn’t arrive. The author may not have got your request yet but I can chase things up.
Mark
Pingback by - November 4, 2008 on 9:45 am
[…] That’ll fool ‘em 10 comments […]
Comment by Ed Coleridge - February 7, 2009 on 7:45 pm
Im living in a place with no TV and could do with just watching something! Please Please send me the info if its still available.
Comment by - February 7, 2009 on 8:34 pm
He Ed
The column got a bit truncated when ITPro shifted to new servers but I’ll contact the author and see if he can send you a copy.
Comment by - March 18, 2009 on 2:27 am
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
Comment by - March 18, 2009 on 9:29 am
Hi Betty
Many thanks for your kind words. That makes two of us who read the blog now. 
Comment by - April 27, 2009 on 11:12 am
this is teaching us a lot i do enjoy reading the article, keep it up.
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