Maybe you don’t know how to really use a computer. The stuff 4oD installs and runs is unbelievable, if any major software vendor (MS?) did this there would be huge stink.

Erm thanks for that. The software probably does work very well by now, it’s been out long enough to be mature and stable(ish).

It also installs a lot of hidden data on your PC, along with a peer to peer service which forces you (unless you disable it) to share all the content you downloaded with lots of other unwitting victims. If you’re happy to give up your hard drive space, Internet bandwidth and full control of your PC to the Channel 4 software, I’m really chuffed for you. Excellent.

Cheers,
Jim

You’ve resurrected quite an old post here. I wasn’t aware the issue is still ongoing, but appreciate your bringing it up again if so.

I’m not entirely certain what your instructions are for though. Uninstalling and reinstalling the applications will just get you back to where you began, unless I’m mistaken.

If my memory serves, isn’t KService the peer to peer component? My whole argument was against this running 24/7 (or at all!) along with the sneaky installation of hidden folders on your PC. Does your post remedy this?

I don’t fancy installing the software again to find out, as it was a drama getting rid of it in the first place.

All the best,
Jim

1. Uninstall Iplayer Download Manager and/or 4OD using Add/Remove programs.
2. Uninstall Kontiki by running KClean.exe http://static.sky.com/kclean/KClean.exe.
3. Then delete the remnants of the Kontiki folder in Program Files if it’s still there.
4. Check the Services list again. KService should no longer be present.
5. Reinstall Download Manager and/or 4OD.
6. Check Services list. KService should now be present and “Started”.
7. Both programs should now work!

Now I’ve read this rant I’m rather glad!

I think it’s a disgrace that C4 could pull a stunt like that. It’s almost as bad as that stupid Sony stunt when they put spyware on their audio cds.

But then again, when some tv execs think you’re ’stealing programs’ if you skip the adverts on your Tivo, what else can we expect?

Two things struck me…firstly, that name; iPlayer. Is that a nod toward Apple? There’s some Apple connection, but I can’t remember what it was and don’t have the energy to search for it.

Secondly, is that the BBC service also uses Kontiki apparently. If it’s anything like 4OD (which it very much resembles in the screenshots!) then it’s going to be crap too.

So, if you download this one and the Channel4 offering, you’re going to be filling up your HDD with twice as much junk in the form of hidden files. Not to mention the bandwidth hit!

I went to the sign up page for the BBC beta. I couldn’t find anything up front about the peer to peer aspect. So, either it isn’t, or it is but is only mentioned in their Terms and Conditions. Which, if I’m being honest, I didn’t read.

Anyone tried the BBC service yet? What’s your opinion?

Jim.

Thanks for your comments. You’ve got a nice article about this on your blog.

You’re quite right about being able to temporarily disable the service using the firewall. I still decided to vote with my feet on this one though.

Logically, yes I can see why they have done it using peer to peer to keep costs down and potentially the speed high. However, they have not been up front about it. Who reads the small print or disclaimer? Considering this is Channel4, a reputable company, you’d expect to be able to trust them to some extent. Obviously not!

One of your commenters has mentioned that uploading is not included in the bandwidth cap by ISP’s. I’m not convinced by that argument. The bandwidth cap used to be simply a monthly download limit. These days, most ISP’s have moved toward the “fair usage policy”. I suspect that the popularity of peer to peer software (especially bittorrent) has driven this change and that they now include both up and downloads. I do believe many ISP’s also have clauses in their terms and conditions to prevent users from running servers on their domestic (as opposed to commercial) account.

It’s all academic anyway. Channel4 have still got probably hundreds or even thousands of unwitting “customers” out there who are oblivious to what their PC is doing. This is as bad as the Sony DRM fiasco as far as I am concerned. There is no excuse for not being open to people about what the software is really doing in the background. It amounts to hijacking in my book.

Jim

Sky On Demand, 4OD and even the BBC iPlayer all use Kontiki software to manage their content delivery, hence KService.exe is turning up on a lot of PC’s of people who have no idea how it got there.

The sad thing is that its hard to argue with the logic behind it. Channel 4 supply a number of programs online completely free – if all the downloads came through their servers, then I’ll guarantee the paid content would be a lot more than £1. More likely, you just wouldnt get free downloads, it would all have to be paid for!

I wrote a post about it a while back with some instructions on how to temporarily disable kservice.exe (ie, while you’re not using it) and then reactivate it when you’ve got something to watch. Its not ideal, but at least it means you can use 4OD and not have to sacrafice your entire monthly download limit at the same time…

http://mou.me.uk/2007/05/09/kserviceexe-channel-4-and-the-stolen-bandwith/