BBC Planning iPlayer Set-Top Box
| Author | Hugo Jobling |
| Published | 30th Jun 2008 |
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TrustedReviews NewslettersWith the next version online iPlayer up and running (and albeit as a separate beta site currently) it seems only natural that the BBC announce some details as to what's next. As I've just heavily implied, that information has slipped out, with the news that the BBC is planning on a system to allow users easy home-access to the iPlayer's library via set-top boxes. So says the Financial Times, at least.
BBC Director General, Mark Thompson, told the FT: "There are many things out there in the market, but what we haven't yet got is a simple standard, to mean that you can get services like iPlayer and Kangaroo ".
We've heard tell before that the BBC was interested in expanding the iPlayer service onto various set-top boxes. Unofficially, we've heard tell that the mandatory inclusion of an Ethernet port on all Freesat boxes was, at least in part, pushed by the BBC to allow access to such streaming services as the iPlayer.
The information available from the BBC definitely implies that it wouldn't be proving the boxes itself, but merely allowing access to the content. It does seem suggested that a basic framework might be provided to manufacturers, ensuring that that access is provided in a simple, user-friendly manner.
Given the choice between browsing YouTube using Apple TV or catching up on Top Gear using from the iPlayer via my Freesat box I know which I'd choose…
Link:
Financial Times.
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The_Pope said on 30th June 2008
SK said on 30th June 2008
If those rubbish ISPs melt, then it's their own fault. There are plenty of ISPs who give a decent service at a good price. If anything, services like the BBCs iPlayer force IS... more
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But who is going to pay for all the bandwidth??
Case in point: surfing around iPlayer last night and I noticed they had a stream for Jay-Z at Glastonbury. The HQ Dow... more