BBC1, BBC2, BBC3...

The news that the BBC is opening up their archives online is some great news, but ever since I first heard the idea, I wondered why they hadn't already, and why PBS hasn't done the same.

I know they both have quite a cottage industry selling transcripts, DVDs, and videotapes, but it seems like a publicly funded station is under the obligation to make their content freely available for the public; that what the BBC is planning to do should be the norm not the exception it currently is.