sorted by: recent | see :
popular
Content Tagged with 132 + 84
BBC Puts iPlayer Catch-Up TV On iPhone
After much rumour, the BBC has made its iPlayer TV catch-up service available on iPhone - its first mobile implementation. The service does not use the new SDK nor an iPhone version of Flash but delivers 516Kbps streams in H.264 format through the handset's web browser, over WiFi - theoretically, this should make it available over iPod touch. It offers on-demand shows transmitted in the last seven days, but only in the UK (BBC Worldwide's forthcoming Kangaroo project will be international and has pledged a mobile component). Digital media technology head Anthony Rose distinguished between delivering iPlayer to phones with browsers and those without - the former being much easier.
BBC Worldwide To Distribute Shows Through iTunes; In UK Only
BBC's commercial arm will start distributing shows through Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iTunes by next week, reports The Register, citing sources. The launch will happen on Tuesday, and BBC Worldwide's digital media director Simon Danker has contacted the BBC's third party production partners to inform them of the new distribution channel. No details of pricing and which shows will show up on iTunes.
Update 1: WSJ also reports citing sources: Initially only about 10 different drama and comedy shows will be sold on iTunes, which doesn't currently have any TV shows from British studios, the person said. It isn't clear which shows will be available.
It is interesting that this deal is only for UK, and will be paid, when UK users can stream/download the same shows online on BBC's website for free. Not sure why anyone would pay then, unless the archives are deeper.
Update 2: An FT story explains it better: The shows will be a mixture of recently aired shows that are no longer available free on the separate BBC iPlayer, and programs from the BBC archives. This could mean paid downloads of BBC programs are available on iTunes months before the launch of Project Kangaroo, the BBC's on-demand streaming and download partnership with ITV (LSE: ITV) and Channel 4, which is due later this year.
Update 3: News confirmed; shows online here. Episodes will cost £1.89, will come in the higher-quality H.264 codec, without DRM. Register: "BBC Worldwide already has a US distribution deal with Amazon's (NSDQ: AMZN) Unbox download service, where episodes cost $1.99 each - about £1."
Related
BBC Worldwide To Distribute Shows Through iTunes; in UK Only
BBC's commercial arm will start distributing shows through Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iTunes by next week, reports The Register, citing sources. The launch will happen on Tuesday, and BBC Worldwide's digital media director Simon Danker has contacted the BBC's third party production partners to inform them of the new distribution channel. No details of pricing and which show will show up on iTunes.
Update 1: WSJ also reports citing sources: Initially only about 10 different drama and comedy shows will be sold on iTunes, which doesn't currently have any TV shows from British studios, the person said. It isn't clear which shows will be available.
It is interesting that this deal is only for UK, and will be paid, when UK users can stream/download the same shows online on BBC's website for free. Not sure why anyone would pay then, unless the archives are deeper.
Update 2: An FT story explains it better: The shows will be a mixture of recently aired shows that are no longer available free on the separate BBC iPlayer, and programs from the BBC archives. This could mean paid downloads of BBC programs are available on iTunes months before the launch of Project Kangaroo, the BBC's on-demand streaming and download partnership with ITV (LSE: ITV) and Channel 4, which is due later this year.
Related
