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Cut the crap. Why all the trials?
18 April 2007 20:59
I hadn’t even finished filling in the form, but I had already been rejected by the BBC’s awesome uber-Archive trial. Obviously too many tech-savvy young males in suburban areas are interested. Who would have thought it?
I have written before about this “trial” stuff the BBC always has to do. I hate the way the BBC has to tiptoe around everything, instead of actually getting on with it. Clearly the technology is there, and the demand is obviously there. But clearly making sure the commerical sector doesn’t piss its pants is more important.
The signup page itself says:
Demand for this trial is likely to be very high so, unfortunately, not everyone who signs up will get the chance to be part of it.
Demand for the service is very high! It is already a winner! But instead of just getting it out there, the BBC is putting it on trial. Not too long ago, the BBC had a slogan that said, “Cut the crap”. What has happened to that attitude?
I know the BBC’s hands are tied in this. It is not their fault. But it can’t be denied that there is something seriously wrong with the world when such demonstrably great things have to be held back for fear of offending a certain set of people in ivory towers.
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#1
Calum Leslie
18 April 2007 22:08
To be fair, this is just standard tech strategy. As much as the web 2.0 crowd are playing with open betas and the like, an organisation as large as the BBC needs a phenomenally large infrastructure to be in place before these systems can be made open. The trials are the only reasonable way I can see of dealing with possible performance and architecture issues while still opening the system to some people.
#2
doctorvee
18 April 2007 22:28
That is fair enough if it takes the form of beta testing or an invite-based system à la Gmail or Joost. But it is the Public Value Tests and the like that really get my goat.
#3
Sarah
18 April 2007 22:41
I got through to the end and told I’d get notified later, Al got hucked out halfway through, so it’s an age/maleness thing I think.
Just more reasons for me to feel superior…!
#4
doctorvee
18 April 2007 23:43
Yes, it was right at that moment, when I revealed that I was a male, that I was rejected. Do you think it would have rung alarm bells to have a female called Duncan in the trial?
#5
Ryan Morrison
19 April 2007 15:21
I was dropped the minute they asked whether I work for the BBC or not
Still I did get to trial the iMP so I can’t really complain.
This is just one part of the trial phase though – there will be a LOT of content made available, not through this trial on the website later in the year – inline with the iPlayer launch.
You’re not the only one annoyed by the Public Value Test rubbish – there are so many brilliant ideas within the BBC and if they could be implemented straight away the Corporation wouldn’t be years behind the commercial sector – but everything has to be checked, checked again and then triple checked.
Oh and Cut the Crap was a Greg Dyke line and having met him it really is true to his character.