While it was due to go live towards the end of November, Freesat has announced that the BBC's iPlayer catch up service will now launch in closed beta on the satellite platform on 7 December.

This beta version of iPlayer for Freesat will only be available to "selected journalists and partners" who will be able to access the service using a code.

As far as the rest of the hoi polloi Freesat users go, well, there's a a wait - Freesat says: "We hope as many Freesat viewers as possible will be able to use the service by Christmas and without the need for a code".

The iPlayer service will only be available to Freesat customers with Ethernet-enabled HD Freesat TVs or HD boxes, and again only if they have an actual broadband speed of 1Mb/s to watch BBC iPlayer or 2Mb/s to watch in high quality.

Finally, there is good news for Freesat viewers on the topic of on-demand television as it's been revealed that ITV and Freesat are working to launch ITV Player onto Freesat in the first half of 2010.

Tags: Home Cinema iPlayer Freesat BBC Video on demand ITV ITV Player

iPlayer's launch on Freesat is delayed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:32:59 +0000

The BBC and commercial radio companies have unveiled the new online radio player we brought you news of recently, that "aims to offer the output of every licensed UK radio station and to let users search this content by subject, musical style, or even song title".

The UK Radioplayer, due for launch early next year, is described as a pop-up console which will be open to stream more than 400 licensed national, local, community and student radio stations.

The BBC says it will offer "a unique, constantly-updated live and on-demand audio service" and users will be able to store their favourite stations on pre-set buttons.

Official terms for the project have now been signed by the BBC, RadioCentre, Global Radio and Guardian Media Group but the service will be made available to all Ofcom-licensed networks.

Initially due to be available through computers, the Beeb says later versions are planned for smartphones and other internet-connected devices. We will keep you posted.

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Tags: Audio Radio BBC Internet radio Websites Online RadioCentre Global Radio Guardian Media Group Biz UK Radioplayer

Online UK Radioplayer plans revealed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:20:50 +0000

The BBC has revealed the Freeview HD roll-out plans with a look at the timetable that will make the DVB-T2 high-def service available across the UK. ?

Apparently 50% of the population will see the HD upgrade in time for next June's World Cup while 98.5% of the population will be sorted by the end of digital switchover in 3 years' time.

London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Bradford and Birmingham will be the first to get the HD goodness as these cities will receive signals by the end of March 2010.

In order to benefit from the new HD-ness, UK viewers will have to upgrade their Freeview kit. The Beeb says HD receivers - set-top boxes, DVRs/PVRs and integrated TVs - will be available from early 2010.

More precise timescales for your area can be viewed over at the BBC's press office site and we'll keep you posted with hardware news.

Tags: Home Cinema BBC Freeview Freeview HD HDTV

BBC reveals Freeview HD roll-out plans originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:29:55 +0000

The BBC has announced that its catch-up iPlayer service will shortly be available as a native channel on the Wii. The service has been available through the Wii's internet browser since April 2008, but the addition of a native channel should improve the user experience considerably.

The new channel will be made live on 18 November, but only consoles with a broadband connection in the UK will be able to access it. It'll be free, but you'll have to download it from Nintendo's online shop - search for "iPlayer" and you should be able to find it without much trouble.

The iPlayer is also available on the PS3, but not the Xbox 360. The BBC is competing with rival broadcaster Sky to try and get its services on as many consoles as possible, but has - in the past - labelled Sony and Microsoft as too "controlling". Sky Player is available only on the Xbox 360.

Meanwhile, Channel 4 has concentrated on making its 4OD service accessible through YouTube, which can be accessed on a range of devices, including mobile phones. But given that the Wii is present in 6 million homes across Britain, this could give the BBC the lead, despite the lack of high-definition support in the console.

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Tags: Home Cinema Wii Nintendo BBC iPlayer Gaming

Nintendo Wii gets BBC iPlayer channel originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:44:59 +0000

Think about your shiny flatscreen TV - its surround sound, its HD capability, its sheer undiluted beauty. Now think about the 28,000 people in Britain, including 1950 in Scotland, that still watch television in black & white.

The TV licensing agency has released stats on the nation's TV viewing to mark the 40th anniversary of the first colour transmissions from BBC1 and ITV. But we're not a nation of luddites - more than 1 million unique users visited BBC iPlayer each day in September, watching more than 60.8 million programmes.

Fergus Reid, a spokesperson for TV Licensing, said: "These figures show TV has never been more popular across the spectrum, and with so many ways to watch TV now available, it is important people are aware of their legal responsibilities".

"Whether you watch in black and white on a 40-year-old TV set or in colour on a brand new 37in LCD flatscreen, you need to be covered by a TV Licence if watching or recording programmes as they are broadcast. "The same is true if you access programmes via the Internet as they are being shown on TV - if you're using a laptop, mobile phone, games console or any other device".

Have you still got a B&W television, or know anyone who does? Seriously? Then tell us below in the comment box, and hightail it over to our TV section.

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Tags: Home Cinema Televisions Statistics BBC

28,000 still using black and white televisions originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:48:23 +0000

Freesat has announced that it'll be playing host to the BBC iPlayer on its HD service "towards the end of the month". The provider says it'll be the first subscription-free television platform that has a full version of iPlayer, without requiring any extra equipment.

Rahul Chakkara, the BBC's controller of future media TV platforms, has posted on the BBC's Internet blog, saying "I expect to start a Beta deployment by the end of November using capable Freesat devices". Capable, in this case, means HD - it won't be initially available on SD Freesat, though we're told it'll roll out over time to those who aren't lucky enough to have a high-def box.

Freesat's also about to launch an ad campaign, focusing on the HD and Freesat+ options (which come in high definition and with a hard-disk-based video recorder respectively). It'll be launching across TV, digital media and retail.

Perhaps TV watching in households across the UK this Christmas will begin to focus on on-demand content, rather than the traditional broadcast output. What are your technology plans for Christmas? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: Home Cinema Freesat BBC iPlayer

iPlayer coming to Freesat HD in late Nov originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:54:21 +0000

The BBC has announced it has made a deal with Stitcher.com to make its BBC World Service content available to users of the mobile phone-based application across the globe.

As many of you will know, Stitcher is a free mobile phone "Smart Radio" app, available on a number of handsets, including the iPhone, the Palm Pre and BlackBerrys.

The BBC World Service programming joins a wide range of audio content available including news, sport, talk and entertainment which is streamed on-demand.

BBC World Service will "provide a selection of English language podcasts, with programming such as Global News, Digital Planet, Global Arts & Entertainment and Africa Today", says the corporation.

Tags: Audio Media streaming Internet radio Stitcher BBC BBC World Service Mobile phone apps BlackBerry iPhone Podcasts iPhone apps Phones

BBC World Service content available on Stitcher app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:58:50 +0000

An online portal that will offer the entire output of the British radio industry could go live in the first half of next year.

While only 2% of radio listening in the UK is currently done online, the plan is hoped to offer a boost to the radio industry amid fears it could be left behind amid the digitalisation of media.

With involvement from both the BBC and the commercial sector it's reported the site could offer up to 500 networks streamed live online.

A prototype system could be ready for testing by Christmas if the Radio Council's plans get the go ahead.

Andrew Harrison, the Radio Council's chief executive has described the scheme as "quite a breakthrough project".

We will keep you posted.

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Tags: Audio Radio Internet radio BBC Online Media streaming

Internet radio portal planned for the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:41:44 +0000

TV soap EastEnders has always done well on the BBC's catch-up service, the iPlayer, so the corporation is likely confident an online spin-off series will go down well with fans.

The miserable real-life series is set to venture beyond the television screen as Walford takes a big step into the wider world of the web with its first ever online episodes due next year.

EastEnders: E20, written by 13 new London writers aged between 17 and 22, will follow four new teenage characters who arrive in Albert Square.

The E20 efforts will stand alone in terms of its storylines from the regular soap and will offer extra online material including video blogs and behind-the-scenes footage in order to "enhance the whole online presence".

EastEnders: E20 will be available at bbc.co.uk/eastenders in January 2010.

Tags: Software Online BBC Video on demand EastEnders Home Cinema

EastEnders going online with E20 spin-off series originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:41:33 +0100

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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Tags: Home Cinema Video on demand iPlayer BBC

BBC to consider "bespoke" iPlayer for devices with half a million users originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:57:03 +0100

The BBC has had its proposals to integrate ITV and Channel 4 content with its popular iPlayer denied by its regulator, the BBC Trust. The corporation wanted to allow its commercial rivals access to the platform to avoid criticism from those who say it has a dominant position in the market.

However, the BBC Trust said that it was "not convinced there was enough potential value to licence fee payers" for the move. The trust said it was too "complex" to be allowed, because it would mix ad-supported content with the BBC's own ad-free shows.

BBC execs are reportedly frustrated by the judgement, and have blamed a lack of understanding of the proposals. "We've been working on this for nearly a year and we don't think the idea of a single website for British television was complex", said one unnamed BBC staffer.

However the BBC's commercial rivals believe that the objective wasn't to simplify things for consumers, but to avoid a cut in the license fee from what could be a potentially hostile incoming Conservative government.

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Related links:

• News - Pay-per-view iPlayer to launch in the States

Tags: Software Online BBC iPlayer ITV Channel 4 Video on demand Media streaming

iPlayer will not get ITV and Channel 4 content originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:31:45 +0100

21% of all adults in the UK don't use the internet at home, or anywhere else, reports the BBC on the back of new research commissioned to look at Britain's "digital divide" in conjunction with the government's new "Digital Britain" plans.

That equates to over a fifth of the adult population - over 10 million people - that are missing out on "employment opportunities, public services, as well as cheaper shopping, utilities and financial services" as well as the social aspects of getting online, says the government.

A large percentage of those unconnected Brits - 66% - are just "not interested", while 81% know "little or nothing" about it and 74% are not confident with using a PC.

The BBC has pledged to help people who want to get online do so and suggest friends and family helping out the digital don'ts, internet connected TVs for those scared of computers, financial help for those that can't afford it and "reassuring people that the internet is for them, can save them money and be fun".

Tags: Software Online BBC Statistics Digital Britain

A fifth of UK adults "digitally excluded" originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:25:56 +0100

The BBC's "Micro Men" debuts on British television tonight. Announced under the title "Syntax Era", it's described by the Beeb as an "affectionately comic drama about the British home computer boom of the early 1980s". It follows the rivalry between Sir Clive Sinclair, played by Alexander Armstrong (Armstrong & Miller) and his former colleague, Martin Freeman's Chris Curry, as they go head to head in the growing home computer market. It's showing at 9pm tonight on BBC Four, but if you're out, it will obviously also be shown on the good ol' iPlayer afterwards, as well as on BBC HD on 14 October.

Tags: Hardware BBC Home Cinema Retro gaming Video

VIDEO: Micro Men on BBC Four tonight originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:01:32 +0100

The commercial arm of the BBC, BBC Worldwide, is planning to launch a pay-per-view iPlayer-esque service in the States where 20 million of BBC.com's 50 million users are.

The online video portal might offer some catch-up US content for free, but would charge for "premium catalogue material" and archive programming.

Such material includes the likes of Doctor Who, Torchwood and Top Gear, all of which do well in the States, but would be offered for a little more than consumers are used to paying on iTunes.

BBC.com's MD Luke Bradley-Jones told paidContent:UK: "Millions of people love Torchwood and would probably pay 10 bucks an episode rather than two bucks".

The plans, said to be over 6 months in development, will require BBC Trust approval, especially as Bradley-Jones says they "would like" to use the iPlayer name and branding.

In the meantime, BBC Worldwide is looking at pushing mobile apps where apparently there is a greater willingness from consumers to pay for content.

A commercial iPhone live TV app for the BBC World News TV channel is planned to cost around $2.

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Related links:

• News - Top Gear tops iPlayer most viewed list

Tags: Software BBC iPlayer Video on demand Online Home Cinema Top Gear Doctor Who Torchwood

Pay-per-view iPlayer to launch in the States originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:06:10 +0100

The new Doctor Who logo, which will accompany Matt Smith's on-screen debut as The Doctor in spring 2010, has been revealed. The BBC says the logo is the 11th to have been used on screen in the show's history.

"A new logo. The 11th logo for the 11th Doctor - those grand old words, Doctor Who, suddenly looking newer than ever", said Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer of the show, who sounds like a bit of character, before adding:

"And, look at that, something really new - an insignia! DW in TARDIS form! Simple and beautiful, and most important of all, a completely irresistible doodle".

"I apologise to school notebooks everywhere, because in 2010 that's what they're going to be wearing".

Related links:

• Link - Doctor Who website

Tags: Home Cinema Doctor Who BBC Video

VIDEO: See the new Doctor Who logo originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:24:32 +0100

It's a little way off yet, due on 20 November this year, but if you want to show your support for the Children in Need appeal, then skins company Wrappz has you covered.

It is currently offering a variety of polka-dot decorated skins for a range of popular gadgetry. There are themed skins on sale for various iPods, the iPhone, Nintendo DS and Wii, PSP and PS3, as well as a fair few other popular mobile phones.

Pricing is ?4.99 for the skins for smaller gadgets and ?12.99 for larger items. Wrappz will donate a not-at-all bad ?3 and ?6 respectively to the cause for each skin sold.

Related links:

• Shop - Wrappz

Tags: Audio Skins Gaming Nintendo Wii Phones iPhone accessories BlackBerry BBC Wrappz Children in Need

Children in Need Wrappz available originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:56:26 +0100

As more live online television becomes available, employees who use such services at their workplace could be putting their employers at risk of a big fine.

The BBC reports that businesses are being warned they could be breaking the law if staff watch live TV on their computers when the firm does not have a TV licence.

Although if you watch live TV on a mobile, portable media player or laptop out and about you are covered by your home TV licence, once the device you're watching TV on is plugged in, the onus is on the premises.

This means that anyone watching live TV (not catch-up services like the iPlayer) could be risking their employers facing a fine of up to ?1000.

A spokesperson for the TV licence body told the BBC: "You need a licence if you are watching programmes as they are broadcast. At a business, the same rules apply".

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Tags: Home Cinema iPlayer BBC TV licence Biz Software Websites Online

Businesses get TV licence warning originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:04:06 +0100