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

ITV has announced that it's going to be showing Star Wars episodes I to VI in high definition on its ITV HD service that's available on Freesat. It'll be starting on 24 October with Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

Then the movies will run each weekend through November and December in consecutive order, concluding with Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. It'll include the terrestrial premiere of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

To get access you'll need a Freesat service and an HDTV. It's subscription-free and can use an existing satellite dish and it includes over 140 channels and HD content from ITV and the BBC. ITV HD also shows Champions League and FA Cup football.

Tags: Home Cinema ITV Star Wars HD Freesat

ITV to show Star Wars I to VI in HD originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:52:08 +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