BBC iPlayer

[MPowered]

3 years in development, the BBC is about to launch the iPlayer, which will allow people to download and watch BBC shows from the past 7 days. You have 30 days to watch it after which it will automatically be deleted from your computer. The iPlayer is a stand-alone program that you download and install in order to watch BBC shows, presumably, with Top Gear being one of them.

All I have to say is thank God for Final Gear.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/sto...003190,00.html

[upyourego]

It's also UK only.

The reason for the 30 day window isn't one set specifically by the BBC - if they could get away with it shows would be there to keep without DRM, however there is a lot more to copyright ownership than just the broadcaster.

However I have heard that there could be an option to buy within the iPlayer (eventually) where if you still want to keep an episode after the 30 day window you can pay £1.99 and own it.

The iPlayer is designed more as a catch up service (a virtual DVR if you like) than a download to own service. There is also a rumour of an international version (subscription or pay per play) at some point.

That might be a problem for Final Gear though as, if BBC Worldwide are selling downloads they might get a bit stricter when it comes to torrents (but what do I know eh!)

[upyourego]

I trialled an early version of the iPlayer (when it was called the iMP) and it's VERY impressive. I've also seen screenshots, wireframes and demos of the final release and it's VERY pretty, very user friendly and a great application (considering it's free).

The iPlayer stretches beyond just the download app though, every piece of Audio/Video content published online by the BBC will come under the iPlayer brand including the Radio Player, News Player, BBC TWO website video and Podcasts.

Oh and if you were wondering what it looks like - Think Pink!

[AnGuRuSO]

Why did BBC want to do this? Also I've heard the internet services in the UK suck, a lot. Wont that affect the quality of the stream? Is it a stream?

[andrebsd]

Since it's UK only... I think I'll have to find a proxy over there that I can route through so I can watch it around here.

[upyourego]

It's not a stream, it's a download service and the quality is pretty good. The BBC did it because it was something heavily requested by licence fee payers - the abillity to easily access BBC content in your own time.

It's not just online though there is also a cable version of the iPlayer run by Telewest and NTL.

Plus the UK Broadband network isn't THAT bad and it's getting better. Average speeds are now about 2mb down and increasing quickly.

[GraemeH]

Thank god, a broadcasting company that knows what people like us want. Sounds great. As long as the program isn't intrusive or adware loaded (and being the BBC it wont be) this sounds like a great way forward for the BBC.

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally Posted by andrebsd

Since it's UK only... I think I'll have to find a proxy over there that I can route through so I can watch it around here.

pay the licence fee and ill be happy for you to do that.

i know that kinda sounds odd, because by doing the torrent thing your effectively watching something we in the UK paid for, for nothing.

but with this you'd be getting the service and the content for free as well. while us brits fund it for you.

[upyourego]

The other thing about the iPlayer not mentioned yet is that the download part of the system (the bit everyone is talking about) is Peer2Peer.

For people outside the UK - there is talk of an international subscription version in the not to distant future - in fact I think Germany may see it launch this year.

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally Posted by upyourego

It's not a stream, it's a download service and the quality is pretty good. The BBC did it because it was something heavily requested by licence fee payers - the abillity to easily access BBC content in your own time.

It's not just online though there is also a cable version of the iPlayer run by Telewest and NTL.

Plus the UK Broadband network isn't THAT bad and it's getting better. Average speeds are now about 2mb down and increasing quickly.

yeah if NTL boost up the cable speeds again im gonna need a new modem. the old boy ntl home 100 modem i have isnt capable of 10mbit, i have 4mbit at the mo which is nice.

i do have an newer ntl modem, it was spare left at my gf house at uni. but im not sure i can just swap modems and have everything still work>?

[Ghostwolf]

I say it's quite worthless because you are not allowed to keep the video files indefinitely, like I do with my downloaded Top Gear episodes. So either you have to download the files again or you will have to buy their DVDs.

[Cobol74]

Originally Posted by GraemeH

Thank god, a broadcasting company that knows what people like us want. Sounds great. As long as the program isn't intrusive or adware loaded (and being the BBC it wont be) this sounds like a great way forward for the BBC.

x2 That is what I feel, not a solution for the international members (of the forum) perhaps and for the subscription service to work it should be cheap. Good way to keep ex-pats in touch with the UK too I suppose (again if subscription works). I wonder if the news/weather will be on it, and what if any additional channels like BBC 3 & 4?

[upyourego]

The iPlayer will have pretty much every TV/Radio show broadcast on any of the BBC networks available to download for free (within the UK) and keep for up to 30 days and WILL include news & weather.

As part of the application you'll also be able to watch any BBC tv channel live as well (as long as your ISP supports multicasting - most don't at the moment though).

The reason for the DRM/time is because of other copyright holders and not the BBC - it's also because OfCom (the regulator) and the BBC Trust are worried about the commercial impact of giving BBC programmes away for nothing (impact on other broadcasters).

[Cobol74]

Thanks for the information - good news. Hey its a competitive world out there can you imagine a commercial station worrying about their impact (which in the past was substantial) on the BBC? Some wholly minded thinking going on here by someone IMHO - lets not upset anyone. ...

[Blythy]

I think it's a damn good idea, cos there's loads of BBC programs that get broadcast at random times, and uknova doesn't get them for a while and there's all kinds of stuff goign on.

[AnGuRuSO]

Originally Posted by upyourego

Average speeds are now about 2mb down and increasing quickly.

2 MB down isn't too bad, but this is 2007. I'm not kidding you, farmers in Australia can beg 24 Megabit connections. For some reason the Australian government thinks the internet is REALLY REALLY important. They've spent a shit load of money so that guys living in the countryside can watch porn.

[upyourego]

The UK Gov is just about waking up to the importance of the internet and the various telcos are increasing speeds.

We're already seeing speeds of 24mb+ and 8mb is starting to become commonplace.

[alistair_1990]

One problem, it's not compatible for Mac users just yet.

[upyourego]

No but the BBC have been told it HAS to be by the end of the year. The problem at the moment is that Fair Play (Apple's DRM) doesn't support the ability to kill a file after a certain number of days.

What I've heard so far is that the Beeb are working with Real to create a cross platform DRM solution.

[Peter3hg]

Originally Posted by AnGuRuSO

2 MB down isn't too bad, but this is 2007. I'm not kidding you, farmers in Australia can beg 24 Megabit connections. For some reason the Australian government thinks the internet is REALLY REALLY important. They've spent a shit load of money so that guys living in the countryside can watch porn.

It doesn't help we are still using pretty archaic exchanges. As these get upgraded, more and more people can get the faster speeds.