Freedom!

If you believe that open access to information is a good thing
If you believe, as a UK TV licence payer, that anyone in the world should have access to the archive material controlled by the BBC but which YOU have paid to create
If you believe that British values are worth promulgating in a world increasingly divided and misguided
If you believe that creativity would be nurtured, fostered and encouraged by being able to use, reuse and adapt material created by some of the most talented artists on the planet

...then you need to get yourself over to http://www.freeculture.org.uk/letters/CreativeArchiveLetter and sign the petition being run by the Open Knowledge Foundation and Free Culture UK to persuade the BBC to open their archives to the world.

Some small degree of access is already being set up by the BBC, and good on them for that, but a culture of restriction, licensing and control still pervades Auntie. In the 21st century, the world needs a better way. Go on, do your bit.