This is the problem with the current television system. With the world being so connected we hear about shows in other countries so we want to see them. The makers of the shows are still operating in pre-internet mode like we don't know about the shows so they can just take their time getting them to the rest of the world. Well we know about the content and can get it just not from them. So we are supposed to just sit with the chocolate cake a foot away and not take a bite.

Speaking specifically about the BBC I don't see why they can't let residents of other countries subscribe to their on demand website. Wouldn't bringing more money into the country be a good thing ? If they can get enough money from other countries they could charge residents less maybe.

I am not ambitious enough to bother downloading any television shows or movies I would rather just watch what Tivo recorded but I can see where some people that do are coming from.