Topic: BBC plans global release for iPlayer

[Clive]

The BBC has announced that it is going to release its hugely popular iPlayer service worldwide.

The global roll-out plans were unveiled by Erik Huggers, director of BBC Future Media & Technology, at a conference on the future of online media distribution.

As yet, no dates have been announced as to when viewers outside the UK will be able to access the iPlayer. Currently the iPlayer is only available to people living in the UK.

Huggers indicated that the BBC is also keen to introduce social-networking elements to the iPlayer to further engage its growing audience.

The iPlayer, which lets viewers catch up on BBC television and radio programmes seven days after they have been broadcast, has been a huge hit among all age groups, Huggers said.

In August the corporation introduced higher-quality video streaming through iPlayer.


Earlier this week the BBC Trust, which oversees the BBC approved plans that will allow iPlayer users to pre-book programme downloads up to seven days in advance.



www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

[Simon]

If only BT would upgrade our broadband infrastructure to cope with it!   

[Rik]

Here go the speeds again.

[sam]

we pay for it, so only us UK citizens should be able to run it....

[GillE]

I suspect the idea is that they'll be able to market derivative shows overseas more easily if other nations have already been introduced to the British versions.  The exported versions of Strictly Come Dancing are huge money spinners.

[jww41005]

Interesting.

I did consider getting 'BBC Prime' over here (spain), but it was only available on an expensive package, and then when I looked at the programs I thought maybe not. But anyway, the iplayer sounds like a better idea so I'll keep my eye on it. At the moment the iplayer says ‘NOT AVAILABLE OUTSIDE BBC LAND’.

John

[sam]

you just need a proxy server to get in...