Feb 17 2005

Dear ABC,

Thank-you for explaining your rationale for watermarking.

Before saying why your rationale is wrong, I would like to say that I do not just "dislike" the watermark. The program maker aims to make a program which captures our attention. The ABC used to have a high quality broadcast network which, particularly on a widescreen TV with digital signal, provides a very high quality picture.

But now, every time the bottom right hand part of the screen is very dark or bright, my attention is drawn to the watermark. The watermark also becomes very apparent when the whole picture pans or zooms as the watermark does not follow the camera movement. This breaks the spell of the program. And this makes me mad.

I agree with you that the change is important. It shows that ABC management now believe that it is important to permanently market their brand despite that fact that it annoys many viewers.

It also shows that ABC management have a poor understanding of their industry, and of the difference between OUR ABC and the commercial networks.

Watermarking has only been established by commercial networks. These networks are responsible to their shareholders. Within the law, the commercial network is striving to increase their shareholders value. If they feel that this is best done by permanently branding their station, then it is up to them. Bad luck to any viewers who do not like it.

But it is OUR ABC. There is no higher-shareholder who's interest come first. The ABC should be aiming to please its viewers, not to annoy them by trying to shove the ABC brand down our throats.

The ABC seems ignorant of how multi-channel systems work. Firstly, when a viewer changes channel, the STB always puts up an onscreen message saying what channel is on. Secondly, if the viewer wants to know about the channel, they can push a button on their remote control (often called ³info²) which will show the channel number, the channel name, and often the name of the program which is being transmitted.

In a very large multi-channel environment most viewers will move to channels by actually selecting the channel number. To do otherwise is to step through far too many channels.

Do you really think that most multi-channel viewers will be unable to find the ABC if they wish to tune to this channel?

Also, even if a watermark was necessary for your retransmission over Foxtel, this does not mean that you need to watermark your terrestrial transmission.

The copyright reason is also a complete load of rubbish. And you know it. Please provide ONE example of a person being caught selling video tapes or DVDs of content taken from the off-air ABC signal.

And if someone wanted to pirate ABC content, then even a home computer can now be used to remove the watermark ie it no longer takes expensive professional equipment.

If you intend the watermark to deter people making copies of programs for their private collection, then your logic condemns you.

If the watermark did not annoy the home recorder, then it follows that the watermark is not a deterrent.

If the watermark was annoying and did disturb good viewing, then it would act as a deterrent to the home recorder. But, for every home recorder annoyed by the watermark, there would be THOUSANDS of ordinary viewers who are not making a recording but are annoyed.

The ABC is acting as if it is your own business and bad luck viewers. It used to be OUR ABC, and there are some people who are determined to get it back.

Please remove the watermarks, and give us back OUR ABC.