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

Sky Player, Sky's online TV service is now available via the Windows Media Center programme in Windows 7 offering "a new and innovative way for people in the UK to watch live and on demand TV from Sky on a PC". ?

For existing Sky TV customers, Sky Player on Windows 7 offers another way to view their Sky TV, while for non-Sky TV customers, there's the option to view content based on monthly subscription packages.

Sky Player on Windows 7 lets users search for shows using keywords, browse programme galleries or scroll through the on screen guide, works with touchscreen PCs and with any Windows Media Center-enabled remote control.

To promote the launch, Sky and Microsoft are offering non-Sky TV customers 3 months of Sky Player for the price of 2 with any Windows 7 purchase.

Tags: Home Cinema Sky Software Windows 7 Windows Media Center Microsoft Video on demand Sky Player

Sky Player on Windows 7 available now originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:32:01 +0000

It's all too easy to go to YouTube as a knee jerk reaction whenever you want to find a video on the internet. In fact, the term has passed into common parlance to refer to any user-generated internet film footage much the same as Google has come to refer to search. But if you take the time to have a look around, you'll notice some perfectly good video services in their own right, such as the very popular Vimeo. Some of them, in fact may even be better. So, how does our alternative example compare with the big kid in the playground??

Ownership

Like all good internet phenomena both Vimeo and Youtube were started by some budding entrepreneurs but have both since been bought up by corporate giants. However Google chooses to present its offices and ethos, its power and influence are second to none online making the company officially The Man as far as the world wide web goes. So, as a user and contributor to YouTube you are supporting the big G machine and all it stands for whether you like it or not. As it happens, it may not stand for anything that bad at all but it's worth bearing in mind.

Comparatively speaking, Vimeo is the little guy, but not by much. Owners IAC have over 50 consumer brands including notably Bloglines, Ask, CollegeHumour and Urbanspoon. You're certainly not saving the manatees by choosing Vimeo over YouTube but it might be a factor for the more corporate conscious.

Content Allowed

Vimeo will not host any commercial videos, gaming videos, pornography or anything else not created by users. YouTube is a little more stringent in its demands, if perhaps only subtly. Google's requirements are the uploads should not be defamatory, contain pornography, copyright violations and material that might encourage criminal behaviour. Much of this, of course, is very reasonable and very necessary given the size of the audience. However, as a smaller player, Vimeo does not have to include such overt holds on subjects with such grey areas like whether a video may or may not spark illegal activities. There have also been issues with other subjects including religion and incidents like the Hillsborough football disaster. Vimeo may well have problems in the same areas but there's no particular hard and fast rules on the matter.

Both sites will delete certain videos they deem unacceptable. YouTube relies on its community to flag videos in breach of the terms rather than vetting each on individually. The system works well but it does mean there's more of a chance of catching something inappropriate before its taken down. Whether you view that as an advantage or disadvantage is up to you.

Copyright issues

Being more much more in the spotlight, YouTube has famously had many more issues with copyright than any other video service. Both Viacom and, more recently, PRS in the UK have sought damages and pulled their content from the pages. Doubtless Vimeo would face the same problems but its smaller size means that these larger companies aren't bothering to look for their material there with quite the same fervor. Consequently, you're more likely to Premier League football, Saturday Night Live sketches, music videos or whatever else you might be looking for without finding that the content has disappeared.

The other issues over copyright to note is that YouTube ?gave over IP addresses and the details of millions of its users to Viacom in the landmark court case. Doubtless the same precedent would apply to such an injunction against Vimeo but with less legal action likely, there's less of a chance of having your data involuntarily shared with a third party.

Library

On the other hand of course, Vimeo's catalogue represents a drop in the ocean compared to the force of nature that is YouTube. YouTube has 20 hours of footage uploaded every single minute. That's nearly 2 million minutes of new video each 24 hours. Vimeo's 13,000 daily uploads is impressive especially given that 10% of those are in HD but it's just a different league. If you want to find a clip or you just want choice, YouTube is the place to be.

Video Quality

Vimeo's greatest boast is that it hosts the highest quality user video on the internet. While the site was quick to adopt 720p HD, YouTube has done the same as of this year. What's more, sometimes a lower quality is preferable. YouTube differentiates with both YouTube Mobile and YouTube TV which are optimised depending on where it is you're looking at the films. That's a handy data saver that Vimeo doesn't offer.

Where Vimeo still can shout though is in terms of video bit rate. The service offers up to 5,000 kbits whereas YouTube delivers around 2,000. Naturally, you're not always going to get that magic 5,000 with Vimeo but the footage does look noticeably smoother. That said, YouTube offers better audio bit rates with anywhere up to 256kbps but you'll only get up 128 with Vimeo although it is at least in stereo.

Uploading

Both services can cope with just about any video file you care to throw at them but they have different rules as to the quantities of data that you're allowed to add. YouTube has set a maximum length of 10 minutes to any one video unless you happen to have a partner account. No file can be larger than 2GB in size either. With Vimeo there is no maximum length of footage but the maximum file size is only half the size at 1GB and with a basic account you're only actually allowed to upload 500MB per week which might not get you that far.

The limit on Vimeo never used to exist until Plus accounts were introduced which offer multiple channels per user, no advertising, priority encoding and 2-pass re-enocding which gives better quality results. So, to some degree, the original users' accounts were downgraded with the introduction which did not go down to well, leaving one wondering whether it's something Vimeo might be happy to do again.

Promotion/Humiliation

With well over 1 billion views each day, YouTube is a far more powerful promotional tool than Vimeo will ever be. If you're big on YouTube, you're famous whether you like it or not. For filmmakers, photographers, musicians and creatives in all sorts of fields, YouTube can be and has been a platform where people have hit the big time. It's still very possible on other services but it's a simpe case of numbers. If you want your work to be seen by as many people as possible, then YouTube is the way to go.

Community

YouTube is for the masses while Vimeo has an air of refinement about it. As a result, there's not only a better quality of video content but also a more friendly comments stream to say the very least. If you want some fair appreciation of your creation, then upload to Vimeo. YouTube is strictly for the thick-skinned.

Downloadable

One very nice touch with Vimeo is that you can download just about all of the videos. So, long as you're a signed up member you can get the footage as the original file that it was uploaded as to keep and enjoy at your leisure. Although there are plug-ins and add-ons and ways that you can do this on YouTube, it's far more convoluted and often doesn't reap particularly good results.

Support

At CES at the beginning of the year, just about every TV manufacturer released a range of internet connected, widget-based products for the living room. Almost all of them had a YouTube widget. Nobody, was that fussed about a small service like Vimeo. Things will change as time goes on but, just as with the iPhone in the mobile phone field, other companies look to support the big player and it's YouTube that we'll find easiest to access wherever we happen to be.

Purpose

With the recent deal to bring ad supported film and TV content onto YouTube, it might not be a case of which of the two services is better than the other but more a case of which is appropriate for your needs at that moment. The commercial route takes Google's video service more towards the likes of Hulu and iPlayer with a shift of focus away from its user generated roots that Vimeo still holds on to. It just depends what you feel like watching. So long as it all stays free, then everybody's happy.?

?

Related links:

• News - YouTube intros skippable pre-roll adverts

Tags: Software Websites Online YouTube Home Cinema Video on demand Vimeo IPTV Features

Vimeo vs YouTube - which is the better video service? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:58:02 +0000

YouTube has begun a "small test" of a new kind of advertising on the site, in an attempt to finally meaningfully monetise the billion videos it serves on a daily basis.

While initial testing for pre-roll adverts on the world's most popular video site did not go well with "abandonment" rates said to be as high as 70%, the site is now going at it again with skippable pre-roll advertising.

"We are constantly working to find the right ads for the right content on YouTube, so as to create an experience that works for our users, partners, and advertisers", says YouTube in a blog post.

YouTube has tried various ways to make big money from advertising. InVideo "overlay" adverts have been live on the site since 2007, much to the disgust of many users when they were introduced, while last year YouTube began a click-to-buy scheme.

"We know what you're thinking", says YouTube, "Who would choose to watch an ad when they can skip it?"

The answer, it seems, might not inspire confidence: "Well, that's what we're trying to find out".

YouTube suggests short (say, 15 second) pre-rolls have seen success as have particularly creative efforts - the "quality and relevance" of an ad making users want to see it play out.

"Skippable pre-rolls [can] create a win-win-win for everyone on YouTube. For users, this format gives them more control over their experience. For advertisers, we're working toward a solution where they pay for ads that users actually watch and engage with".

What are your thoughts on pre-roll ads? Does a "your video will start in 10 seconds" message drive you mad? Have your say in the comments box below.

?

Read

Tags: Software Websites Online YouTube Home Cinema Video on demand Advertising Biz

YouTube intros skippable pre-roll adverts originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:06:03 +0000

In the States Sony has announced new "entertainment offerings" for the PlayStation Network from Lucasfilm, Cinetic FilmBuff, ContentFilm International, Image Entertainment, MPI Media Group and New Video.

The content, available now in the US for purchase or rent, includes Star Wars: The Clone Wars, TV series Leverage, feature films Powder Blue and Management, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and online mini-series Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog from New Video.

Additional content from these providers will be added over time joining the 10,000 hours of downloadable entertainment content that's currently pegged at over 2300 full-length movies for American consumers.

Tags: Gaming Playstation Network PS3 Sony Video on demand Home Cinema

PlayStation Network gets more video in the States originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:32:31 +0000

It's being reported that Netflix streaming of movies may soon be available on Nintendo's Wii console. The service, which is already available on PCs and on the Xbox 360 and PS3, will allow customers to choose from a selection of films to view on-demand from their sofa.

There's a bit of contention about whether the service will be coming to the Wii, or its successor, the Wii HD, which is rumoured to be due early next year. It may be the case that it comes to both, but the service could prove a powerful motive for existing Wii owners to upgrade.

Not long ago, Netflix's CEO confirmed that the service would be coming to an as-yet-unnamed other country outside of the USA, but for now Netflix remains a US-only proposition.

Read

Tags: Home Cinema Wii Netflix Video on demand Media streaming Nintendo

Netflix streaming coming to Wii originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:50:12 +0000

While we're waiting to hear more on Netflix's outside the US streaming plans, in the States the movie rental company has announced its content will soon be available to PS3 owners.

Sony and Netflix have announced a team up that will see thousands of movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PS3. For those not yet Netflix members, the service starts from $8.99 a month and offers "unlimited" movies and TV episodes.

Netflix says it expects to begin streaming via the PlayStation Network next month at no additional cost to Netflix-ers who have a PS3, but users will need to stick a special Blu-ray disc in their consoles to get the service to work.

The free instant streaming disc uses Blu-ray's BD-Live tech to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, something Xbox 360 Netflix users don't need, but without the Gold membership cost Microsoft demands.

Netflix members and PS3 system owners can now reserve a free disc for PS3 systems by going to www.netflix.com/ps3.

Tags: Home Cinema Media streaming Video on demand PS3 Sony Netflix Gaming

Netflix streaming announced for PlayStation 3 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:19:50 +0000

Disney is prepping an interesting solution that will redefine "ownership as access rights, not physical possession", reveals the Wall Street Journal.

The project, currently codenamed "Keychest", will offer cloud-based content that those who have paid to access it, across multiple platforms.

By paying a single price consumers would be granted permanent access to a movie or a TV show that they could chose to watch on-demand via a connected television, on a computer, or on the go on a similarly hooked up portable device, such as a mobile phone.

As well as addressing the modern consumer's need for flexible digital content, and falling DVD sales, the solution would mean that the content would not eat into the memory capacity of smaller portable devices, although consumers would have to be careful with data costs.

The WSJ reports: "The company has been quietly demonstrating Keychest for other movie studios and technology companies in a bid to get them to sign on".

Disney is said to be due to unveil the technology next month - we will keep you posted.

Read

Tags: Home Cinema Disney Video on demand Disney Keychest Software Cloud computing Storage

Disney to offer "Keychest" cloud-based solution for content across devices originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:05:15 +0100

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.

?

Read

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

MySpace has announced what it says is "the next phase" of its music offering with a wave of new products and tools now available to artists and fans.

As well as allowing users to buy music on iTunes in addition to Amazon MP3, the global rollout of a new "MySpace Music Video" experience has begun, while the "MySpace Artist Dashboard" - a free data and analytics tool for artists - has hit beta.

MySpace Music Videos launches with the boast of being one of the most comprehensive online collections of music videos available anywhere.

The MySpace Artist Dashboard offers detailed analytics about artist's content within the MySpace community offering trending data and info on song plays, profile views, friend count, and profile visitors.

Tags: Software Online Websites MySpace Social networking Audio Video on demand iTunes Amazon MP3

MySpace hits next phase of music offering originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:38:35 +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.

Read

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

YouTube and Channel 4 have done a "landmark" deal that will see full-length versions of the broadcaster's top TV shows available online, on demand on the Google-owned site.

The agreement, 6 months in the making, is for a 3-year period and will mean programmes will go online "shortly after" shows have aired. ?

New shows available will include the likes of Skins, Hollyoaks and Peep Show and will be joined by 3000 hours of archive programming including Brass Eye, Derren Brown and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.

Channel 4 will continue to offers its in-house 4oD catch-up service while the two companies will share ad revenue on the C4 content online at YouTube.

Channel 4's TV shows are due to be "fully available" via YouTube in early 2010, apparently the first time any broadcaster has used YouTube to offer a full-fat catch up service.

Read

Tags: Home Cinema YouTube Video on demand Channel 4 Online Biz

Channel 4 content to be available on YouTube originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:29:15 +0100

TVCatchup, a company based in Britain which allows the watching of live television on its website, managed to get itself into trouble with broadcasters last year after offering a free program recording service, which it was then forced to suspend after its hosting was terminated by its ISP.

However, the site has now launched an iPhone (or iPod Touch) version of its website that allows anyone who visits iphone.tvcatchup.com on their handset to watch live UK television, albeit with a delay of about a minute.

It won't work outside of the UK, but within the country it claims that it's completely legitimate. A mobile version had originally been planned for early 2008 but was abandoned after browsers that supported Flash (like SkyFire) began to appear on mobile phones.

The iPhone, which still doesn't support Flash, was left out of the party, but this new solution offers playlist downloads to get around the problem. If you have an iPhone or iPod touch then give it a go and let us know what you think.

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps iPhone TVCatchup Video on demand TV

TVCatchup launches iPhone site originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:57:23 +0100

The UK division of online video service Joost has gone into liquidation.

Founded by the creators of Skype and Kazaa, Joost, although attracting big media investors with funding said to top $45 million, failed to sign agreements with major content providers.

The UK arm of the Netherlands-based company is said to have now been dissolved following a month on the market with no buyers interested in snapping up the service after a revamp in July.

Joost "failed to sustain a significant share of the internet video industry and was unable to address this effectively through a re-positioning of its services", says the liquidators.

Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, Joost's founders, are said to be busy setting up the typically vowel-light Rdio, an online music streaming subscription service for sharing and listening to music online or via mobiles due in early 2010.

Read

Tags: Software Online Joost Video on demand Biz Rdio Audio Media streaming

Joost goes into liquidation in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:42:31 +0100

We knew this was coming, but Samsung and Blockbuster have now announced the immediate availability of Blockbuster's On Demand digital content for rent or purchase on select Samsung HDTVs and Blu-ray players in the States.

With the Blockbuster service, on demand movie rentals cost from $2.99 to $3.99, while purchases will set US consumers back between $7.99 to $19.99.

With on-screen search and browsing capabilities, as well as full details, ratings, trailers, and other info about each movie directly on the TV, the service is instant with the ability to hit play to begin viewing right away.

Samsung televisions that can get the new service in the States are the Samsung Series 650 and above, LCD/LED and plasma HDTVs and Series 7000 and above.

The service is also available on Samsung BD-P1600, BD-P3600 and BD-P4600 Blu-ray players, as well as select Samsung Blu-ray home theatre systems (HT-BD1250, HT-BD3252, HT-BD7200 and HT-BD8200) via a firmware upgrade.

Tags: Home Cinema Samsung Blockbuster Video on demand

Blockbuster On Demand goes live on select Samsung devices originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:45:43 +0100

UK broadcaster Sky News has announced it has now begun streaming its TV output live online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A new, higher bit rate video player at skynews.com claims to deliver "faster, crisper and more prominent footage on those stories that contain videos".

Sky News, live and as it appears on TV, 24 hours a day is available free online to anyone in the UK or Ireland, without the need to log in.

"With Sky News now available on more platforms than ever – on TV, online, on mobiles, through iPhone and iPod touch apps, at train stations and on planes – there's barely a screen in Britain now where you can't access Sky News", says Julian March, senior executive producer for Sky News online.

Tags: Home Cinema Sky Sky News Video on demand Online Software

Sky News starts 24-hour live stream originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:34:04 +0100

With more and more "events" from football matches to concerts happening online, and the BBC's iPlayer continually gaining popularity, making sure you have a fast internet connection from your ISP at home is going to be your number one goal if you don't want to play the buffer race game or experience stuttering playback.

With so many ISPs touting their services as the best, how do you know what really is the best one to sign up for? We sat down with Tom Leathes, director at top10-broadband.co.uk to get his opinion on who are the best performers right now.

The best ISP for video

Top choice for watching any video content on the internet is Virgin Media's XXL Cable package that runs on a fibre-optic cable and delivers a 50MB/sec connection into your home. Currently available in about 70% of the UK, there are no load sharing issues associated with ADSL (ie you get all 50MB rather than sharing it with others on your street) and the 50MB/sec speed is fast, damn fast. The catch is that you'll have to pay for it, prices start at around ?18 a month plus your phone line bring it up to around the ?30 a month marker.

A good ISP for video

If you can't get Virgin's top of the range package, Leathes suggests another, the slower Virgin Media Cable offering. It offers connections speeds of 20MB/sec and has the benefit of being available in 80% of UK homes. It won't help you, however, if you're not in a Virgin Media area at all.

A good ISP that isn't Virgin Media then, is ADSL. Decent performers, says Leathes, are BT, Be and O2 in that order, offering a range of packages that will all be fast enough to stream football, concerts and anything else for that matter into your house (read porn).

Broadband on a budget

Of course we haven't all got ?360 for a year's subscription for the best package available, but that doesn't mean you've got to suffer. Those on a budget should look at Plusnet's 8MB/sec offering. It will give you an average speed of around 3 to 4MB/sec download speeds and cost ?5.99 a month. At the moment Plusnet are also offering the first 3 months free making the first year a rather more price friendly ?53.91.

Look for triple play deals

"When looking for value, a triple play package that bundles broadband with TV and telephony will always provide the best value at whatever speed you opt for", recommends Julian Clover at Broadbandtv.com

One final tip

A word of warning though, if you are looking to stream HD, this package isn't cut out for it. For that you will need a download speed of at least 8MB/sec to be comfortable. You can do it for less of course, but you won't get the best experience.?

Tags: Software Online ISPs Virgin Media BT Be O2 Video downloads Video on demand Features

Watching video online? Which ISP should you use originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:06:53 +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.

Read

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