BBC to consider "bespoke" iPlayer for devices with half a million users

Could see video on demand service coming to lots more hand-held gadgets

BBC to consider "bespoke" iPlayer for devices with half a million users

22 October 2009 9:57 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

The BBC's iPlayer catch-up on demand service might well be heading to many more hand-held gadgets soon, thanks to new guidelines published by the Beeb regarding "bespoke development" of the platform for devices with a certain amount of users.

Although when the iPlayer launched in 2007 the BBC was heavily criticised for making it only available for Windows PC, in the time since it has now launched onto more than 20 different platforms and devices.

Currently racking up 100 million streams a month, more than a quarter of views are through Virgin Media, just under 10% through the PS3 while the BBC notes, "increasingly users are also accessing iPlayer on mobile devices".

By the end of 2009, the BBC wants to add more platforms but says "to deliver a high-quality user experience we sometimes need to adapt the product ourselves, and the huge variation of standards in the market makes this an expensive and complex process".

So guidelines have now been published that state: "The BBC will consider bespoke development of iPlayer technology for specific device families with an installed base of over 500,000" while those with 100,000 users will mean the BBC will consider "adjusting" its tech.

 

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Comments

  • I hate to watch iPlayer through the PS3 due to the device's fan that starts to sound like a hairdryer about 10 minutes into playback. Some mobile devices have similar issues as they generally aren't designed for prolonged high processor usage. Trying to use the Slingplayer, for example, on my old N95 caused the device to overheat and reboot after maybe 30 minutes of playback. Posted by Gerard Krupa, UK
  • I've used iPlayer on my PS3 quite a few times now and the fan has never made a sound yet. I've just switched the sound off and went up to the PS3 to see if I can hear anything and still no noise. It's silent. Perhaps your PS3 is not working as it should Gerard or mine is just working better than most.
    I really like iPlayer on my PS3. I've never used it on my PC and don't think I ever will as it's so good on the PS3.
    I've missed a couple of progs due to playing Uncharted 2, but I caught them on iPlayer when I could eventually pull myself away from Uncharted 2.
    iPlayer on my phone would be good though. I'd give that a try.     Posted by Kevin, UK

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