TurnerGTX
Active Member
Tomorrow, the BBC will change the way that broadcasting works in Britain for ever. When the much-touted iPlayer is launched to the public, albeit in a "beta" test form, no viewer need ever worry about missing a programme again, because a few clicks of mouse will bring it up on a computer screen, exactly as it was when it was transmitted live.
What is the iPlayer and how can I get it?
The BBC iPlayer enters public beta tomorrow, and will allow licence holders to download most BBC programmes, and keep them on a computer for up to 30 days.
However, once you start watching them, you only have a seven-day period to view them, as many times as you like. You can register for the BBC iPlayer tomorrow at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer. The site will not go live until then.
What can I watch?
The process of making TV available online is complicated by who owns the rights to what versions of which shows. The Chase, Jekyll, and EastEnders, to name but a few, are all available to download because the BBC has the legal right to give them to licence fee payers.
But the hit American drama Heroes, for instance, will not be available, because the online broadcast rights don't belong to the BBC. In future versions of iPlayer, you'll be able to "stack" up to 15 per cent of episodes in a series and your computer will automatically download episodes in a series you select to stack (it's similar to the "series link" function on Sky+).
The BBC is aiming to put more than 80 per cent of its entire schedule online by 2010; it's possible that, between now and then, the seven-day window will be increased, and you'll be able to keep shows on your computer for longer.
What do I need?
Only people with PCs running Windows XP can take part initially; Macs, Windows Vista and other platforms will be supported later on.
Can I watch the iPlayer on my TV?
The BBC is aiming to provide programmes in a quality that's good enough to watch at full computer screen resolution, although not in high definition.
That means that even if you have the necessary cables and kit, or, say, an Apple TV, to connect your computer to your TV, the resolution will be slightly disappointing. But it won't be long until TVs connect directly to the internet, via an iPlayer box like Sky's similar Sky+ personal video recorder.
Can I keep programmes, or send them to other people?
No - each programme is digitally encrypted using Microsoft's "digital rights management" (DRM) technology. Realistically though, it's only a matter of time before the hacking community works out how to exploit DRM loopholes.
In addition, many music tracks are now being sold through online stores without DRM encryption, and it's entirely possible that as iPlayer evolves, the BBC may yet follow suit.
What about older programmes?
Alongside the private iPlayer trial that's been going on over the past few months, the BBC has also been trialling an Archive Player. In time, that service is likely to let you purchase older programmes from the archives.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml;jsessionid=JI21D1J0FRJMHQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/connected/2007/07/26/dlbbc126.xml
Does this mean people will download TG direct from the iPlayer from now on? Surely a proxy will allow non-Brits to watch?