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BBC iPlayer



On 9 April 2008 the BBC iPlayer was made available to stream video content on the Wii video game console via the Internet Channel (only available to UK residents).[33][34] This was enabled by a recoding of the iPlayer to use Flash 7 rather than Flash 9.

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Criticisms

Free Software Foundation protests outside BBC Manchester
Free Software Foundation protests outside BBC Manchester

During the 2005 and 2006 iPlayer trials, the DRM system used was based on Microsoft's Windows Media DRM, which led to concerns about cross-platform availability, as this technology is only available for Windows XP. However, some users have managed to get it working using compatibility options in Vista.[35] The BBC emphasises that it "has a commitment to platform neutrality and a remit to make its content as widely available as possible",[36] and that while the initial trial used a Microsoft-based technology, they are constantly looking for new technologies which would enable them to relax the restriction: Ashley Highfield, the BBC's director of Future Media and Technology, has explained that "we have always started with the platform that reaches the most number of people and then rolled it out from there". They also point out that not all of the content delivered through the iPlayer will be subject to DRM - live streaming content, for instance, may not need the same level of control, presumably implying that players for Mac OS X and Linux systems could be developed with a restricted range of content. However, a project has been started to enable the iPlayer to work with other platforms via the Wine project.[37]

On 14 August 2007, the Free Software Foundation staged a demonstration outside BBC Television Centre.[38] The FSF's Peter T. Brown criticised the BBC for what he claimed was a break from previous tradition: the insistence that, for the first time, BBC viewers would be forced to use proprietary technology to watch BBC programmes.

On 16 October 2007, the BBC announced that a strategic relationship with Adobe, that would bring a limited, streaming-only version of the iPlayer to Mac and Linux users (as well as Windows users who can't or don't wish to use the iPlayer download service).[39] The streaming version of the iPlayer went live on the 13 December 2007.[9]

The iPlayer came under criticism for the delay in launch, rebranding and cost to BBC licence-fee payers, as no finished product had been released after four years of development.[40]

The BBC has also been criticised for saying that the iPlayer would 'launch' on the 27 July 2007, when what was on offer was simply an extension of the beta to an open beta, admitting more users in a controlled manner.[41] This was done reportedly to allow British ISPs and the BBC to gauge the effect of the iPlayer traffic on the Internet within the UK, although Channel 4 and ITV had both recently launched similar services.

Further criticism has been focused on the iPlayer's use of KService from Kontiki, a peer-to-peer application which continues to use users' bandwidth, even after the iPlayer has been shut down,[42] though this can be controlled using options available within the software. Because of this, users may be charged by their Internet service provider for exceeding their download limit or fair use policy.[43]

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Reception

Within 3 weeks of its official launch the BBC reported that over 3.5 million programmes[44] had been streamed or downloaded within two weeks of the release. The Observer described these figures as "remarkably promising".[45] The BBC originally planned for only 500,000 users within the first 6 months of the download service.[46] Streaming of programmes currently outnumbers downloads eight to one.[47]

This take up may be related to the significant "long tail" effect that the BBC has reported, with many users seeking out more niche interest programmes, and programmes broadcast on digital channels doing remarkably well.[45] However, this is expected to change with the introduction of booking programmes to download in advance, and automatic downloading of the next episode.

The demands of the iPlayer has met with some concern and criticism from UK ISPs due to the additional bandwidth the service will require.[48] Several ISPs, notably Tiscali, have called on the BBC to partially fund network upgrades to cope with iPlayer traffic.[49]

The iPlayer now accounts for around five percent of all UK traffic.[50]

On the 11 May 2008, iPlayer was awarded a BAFTA for "Interactive Innovation Service/Platform", beating Channel 4's 'Big Art Mob' and the Bebo 'Open Media Platform'.[51]

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References

  1. ^ BBC launches catch-up TV trials. BBC News (2005-09-29). Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
  2. ^ Goliath.com Results of the BBC's Integrated Media Player trial.. Goliath (2007-04-13). Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
  3. ^ BBC interactive Media Player: news & review. DJ Alchemi (2004-08-23).
  4. ^ My BBC Cool Blue. open.bbc.co.uk (2006-05-25).
  5. ^ a b BBC iPlayer Launched. Broadband Finder (2007-12-27).
  6. ^ BBC online video service launches. BBC News (2007-07-27).
  7. ^ a b iPlayer Petition. 10 Downing Street. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  8. ^ iplayer - epetition response. 10 Downing Street (2007-09-06). Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  9. ^ a b c BBC increases reach of iPlayer as streaming begins. BBC Press Office (2007-12-13). Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
  10. ^ Beeb iPlayer gets Firefox-friendly. The Register (2008-02-02).
  11. ^ Broadcasters in web TV talks. The Guardian (2007-06-14).
  12. ^ Samuel L Jackson to promote cable iPlayer. DigitalSpy (2008-02-29). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  13. ^ a b BBC iPlayer On Virgin Media. BBC Press Office (2008-04-30). Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  14. ^ iPlayer (A Freedom of Information request to British Broadcasting Corporation by Rose). BBC Future Media and Technology via MySociety - WhatDoTheyKnow? (2008-04-08). Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  15. ^ BBC spent £6 million to develop the iPlayer. Reportr.net (2008-04-24). Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
  16. ^ Can I series link my favourite TV shows?. The BBC (2007-09-26).
  17. ^ BBC Privacy and Cookies policy. The BBC (2008-03-22).
  18. ^ Beeb's iPlayer reaps streaming traffic dividends. The Register. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  19. ^ BBC gives the iPlayer a festive push. The Guardian (2007-12-18).
  20. ^ a b iPlayer - Last 7 Days. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
  21. ^ What kind of programmes are available on BBC iPlayer?. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  22. ^ Adobe Flash Player: System Requirements. Adobe. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  23. ^ What if I don't run Windows, can I still download?. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  24. ^ Anthony Rose (2008-03-07). BBC iPlayer On iPhone: Behind The Scenes. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  25. ^ BBC iPlayer comes to the iPhone. BBC News Online. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  26. ^ BBC calls DRM cops on iPlayer download party. The Register. Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
  27. ^ BBC response to non-iPhone clients. Beebhack. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  28. ^ BBC iPlayer fix hacked again!. Paul Battley. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  29. ^ Update to video file encoding. Beebhack. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  30. ^ Virgin Media and BBC partner to bring BBC iPlayer to TV. BBC (2008-04-30). Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  31. ^ BBC iPlayer content enters Virgin EPG. Digital Spy (2008-05-30). Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  32. ^ BT (2008-05-26). TV Replay Is Changing. BT. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  33. ^ BBC announces Nintendo Wii deal. BBC News Online (2008-04-09). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
  34. ^ BBC iPlayer on Wii. BBC News (2008-04-09). Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
  35. ^ Vista.. Long live XP. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  36. ^ iMP using Microsoft ... no chance of a linux version then ?. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  37. ^ BBC iPlayer on Linux project Wiki. BBC iPlayer Wiki. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  38. ^ Free software campaigners stonewalled at BBC. The Register (2007-07-14).
  39. ^ BBC enters strategic relationship with Adobe to enhance BBC iPlayer and bbc.co.uk. BBC Press Office (2007-10-16). Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
  40. ^ Situation critical. The Guardian (2007-05-14).
  41. ^ Chris Williams (2007-07-31). The BBC iPlayer 'launch' that wasn't. The Register.
  42. ^ Ian Morris (2007-07-31). Crave Talk: Five things that are wrong with BBC iPlayer. CNET.
  43. ^ Simon Fluendy (2008-03-16). BBC iPlayer fans face hidden costs. thisismoney.co.uk.
  44. ^ Ashley Highfield (2008-01-13). iPlayer Launch: First Indications. BBC.
  45. ^ a b Mark Sweney (2008-01-15). BBC iPlayer bursts through user target. The Guardian.
  46. ^ Mark Sweney (2006-06-27). BBC aims for 1m iPlayer users. The Guardian.
  47. ^ Ashley Highfield (2008-01-14). iPlayer Launch: First Indications. BBC.
  48. ^ Jemima Kiss (2007-08-13). ISPs fear iPlayer overload. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  49. ^ BBC and ISPs clash over iPlayer. BBC News (2008-04-09). Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  50. ^ Richard Wray (2008-04-30). BBC iPlayer Launched on Virgin Media. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  51. ^ Television Craft Winners in 2008 - The BAFTA site. British Academy of Film and Television Arts (2008-05-12).

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