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What the ABC has done is basically add to their first email response
since February. Here is the original response:
We're sorry that you do not like the introduction of watermarking
on ABC Television programs. While noting your comments, we
believe that this change is both important and necessary.
Watermarking is a practice that has been well established
in Australia by other networks for many years and is in fact
fairly standard practice internationally. In a multichannel
environment there is a need to subtly identify the channel
for viewers and this identification will become even more
necessary as the number of digital stations increase in the
coming years.
Secondly, and importantly, the ABC believes it has a duty
to copyright owners. Watermarking works against piracy (illegal
off air recording) and for this reason it was adopted in most
countries a number of years ago. |
Here is the next addition:
As a result of feedback from our audiences we have reduced
the watermark's translucence or strength by half, we have
reduced the size of the watermark, and we have moved it to
the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
Nonetheless, we do appreciate your views and I have passed
them on to ABC TV Management for their information. |
And number three:
The ABC is aiming to provide an effective, yet unobtrusive,
watermark. However, as ABC programming is transmitted in a
variety of broadcasting formats, the onscreen placement of
the watermark has also varied greatly. To ensure the ABC watermark
is visible at all times, the image has been repositioned,
as you have noted, in the 4:3 safe zone and the luminosity
slightly increased from 7% to 12%. These minor changes will
ensure that the watermark is not obscured, cut off or omitted
in future.
Nevertheless, your comments have been noted and passed on
to the television Management for their information.
Thank you for taking the time to let us know your views. |
If you’re unsure of what 4:3 safe zone is – a simple
explanation:
The standard ‘aspect ratio’ of TV for years has been
4:3. Digital TV has a different aspect ratio, that of 16:9, also
known as widescreen, Essentially, the two different formats are
like different shape windows on the same images.
If this still doesn’t make sense please check out this external
link:
(especially towards the bottom of the page)
http://www.divx.com/support/guides/guide.php?gid=12
The above statement from the ABC is merely saying that the current
placement of the watermark falls within the old standard.
The latest versions of the emails have included this statement:
The ABC took the decision to introduce the watermark because
it believes it is useful to its viewers. While the ABC again
notes your concerns, it has nothing to add to its previous
correspondence on this matter.
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Basically, in plain English, go away! Unfortunately for the ABC,
their budget comes from taxpayers, and I’m one of them, along
with many others. I’m not leaving them alone – I paid
for this!
To read how to counter their main arguments, see Bluster
and Baloney.
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