BBC blocking Firefox and Linux users from accessing video content?

Posted by Jim on May 29th, 2008 filed in internet, linux

This is rather strange. Recently I’ve noticed the BBC will not let me watch any video content site with Firefox 3 beta 5 on Ubuntu. Now I know this is not a country based issue, I live in the UK. Secondly, I know it is not an issue with my ISP that makes me look like I am accessing the content from abroad. How do I know this? Simple, by switching user agents.

First I clear my cookies and try to watch a video, say one of Fabio Capello’s crazy interviews in English, the site greets me with the following message:
“Sorry this content is not available at the moment”

Now, if you’ve had ISP issues before with the BBC’s site you will know that if your ISP has acrazy routing scheme up the BBC site will give you the following message:
“Sorry this content is not available in your country”

Notice the difference?

Now all I have to do to watch the video is clear my cookies once more and use the User Agent Switcher plug-in for Firefox to gain access. Simply switch the agent to crappy old Internet Explorer on Windows Vista and enjoy the videos…

Some different Firefox extensions

Firefox 3.0 beta 3 memory usage

If you could Only Choose Four Firefox Extensions


7 Responses to “BBC blocking Firefox and Linux users from accessing video content?”

  1. Katy Says:
    May 29th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    nope, it’s fine on my computer.

    I get ’sorry this video isn’t available’ sometimes, but that’s usually when Virgin Media are excelling themselves at providing a shite service (oh, and same on vista)

  2. Jim Says:
    May 31st, 2008 at 2:53 am

    Ahh, you must have fixed Kubuntu! Maybe it’s a Firefox 3 thing then :S

  3. Ben Says:
    May 31st, 2008 at 11:26 am

    I get the same problem in Windows XP using Firefox 2. It used to work but suddenly stopped last week. Using the IE tab extnesion works though so it’s either Firefox being silly or the BBC blocking FF users….

  4. Katy Says:
    May 31st, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    (also using firefox 3)

  5. chris Says:
    June 15th, 2008 at 11:02 am

    Hi

    I was using Firefox and tried to browse BBC and it didn’t load and I thought there was something with my net connections.

    I didn’t think it was the problem but hey works with IE anyways.

    Chris

  6. James Says:
    June 30th, 2008 at 9:19 am

    Don’t forget that the BBC is a Windows centric company. All other OSes and browsers are a low priority for the Beeb. That sais, with the popularity of FF growing they’ll have to change their ways :)

  7. offshore development india Says:
    July 21st, 2008 at 8:48 am

    I also using Firefox 3. I have face this problem

Bad Behavior has blocked 97 access attempts in the last 7 days.