Cross-platform BBC iPlayer To Be Released

[bobbocanfly]

From news.bbc.co.uk:



The BBC will launch a download version of its iPlayer online video service for Apple Mac users by the end of 2008.

The corporation's director general Mark Thompson made the commitment in a blog posting on the BBC's website.

"I hope this good news is evidence of the hard work that the BBC is committing to supporting other platforms," he wrote.

The BBC had faced criticism for launching the download iPlayer service for Windows users only.

Explaining the decision to launch for just Windows users, Mr Thompson said it had been about "making the service available in the shortest time frame to the greatest amount of users".

He wrote: "Were we to choose to not develop any systems or services until they could be received by every single individual licence-fee payer, our capacity for development and innovation - in the interest of serving those who fund our services - would be severely limited."

The BBC's iPlayer comes in two versions - a program which allows users to download programmes to their Windows PC and a streaming version on the web available to all users.



Nothing directly about Linux but it seems we will be able to get access. Good news as i know a lot of people in the mailing lists want this.

[chewit]

Personally I'm not too fussed about downloading the programmes. I perfer to stream them. But its good that Linux could be getting attention.

[garwaymatt]

Hopefully it will be an open system, but I have extreme doubts. They should just stick the stuff up in Ogg theora(Or dirac), for 7 days, then remove the downoad link. that way they can still have an element of control. The content has already been paid for, so why not? They would probably save money from not having to pay a licence charge to use the WM system.

[leftcase]

I think part of the problem is that the BBC doesn't totally control the distribution rights of the programs it runs.

The BBC will no doubt licence program content on pretty strict terms like "you may air this once on BBC One with 3 repeats on BBC Three" etc etc.

If the BBC then asked for the content to be freely downloadable no doubt the people due royalties would want more cash. ;-)

[fatality_uk]

Elreg spelt it out today. iPhone. The BBC want's to cash in on iPhone users and is moving away from Windows player. Apparently, the No1 accesory in the BBC offices is, said iPhone, Linux is still an after thought. Motivation? Leave that for you to decide ;)