Hi Clousseau,
But there is an alternative to play these streams. I use this free open source media player:
http://www.videolan.org/ Videolan does all the commercial proggies do, and even more. You can also download a recorder so that you can save the streams for later (considering you live in a country where that use is still considered legal): Radio tuner is such a program. See here:
http://all-streaming-media.com/These movements and policies are typical for all that is going around in the monopolistic corporal world. It is all about control, and taking measures to see no-one escapes control in the future. At least that is what they try to accomplish.
Why do you think salmon is no longer reared in the wild, but in big basins, why eel is disappearing, deer is under suspicion of BSE, wild boar is dangerous?? No-one should be able to escape control in the future society or be self-sufficient. The same with the content industry, if they were horse-butchers they rather sell per ounce than by the pound, and even chop away at a race-horse. This is also behind the schemes and attack to damage open source (who owns the alleged patents?). Not every home user is aware, but the role of the home-user is being minimized to pay and play, but under "their" rules. And these rules are not going to be consumer-friendly. Alas they have to present it in such a way, and do it so cleverly, that they won't shoot in their own foot. We live in interesting days.
polonus