BBC Category
BBC and Online Television such as the iPlayer service
BBC Worldwide has finally deigned to bring iPlayer to more than just those of us in the U.K. Unfortunately it hasn’t got the licensing in place to bring it to the United States quite yet.
Global iPlayer App
There has been talk of an international version of iPlayer for some time, with viewers in the U.S. being particularly keen on the idea, even though they know they’d have to pay for it.
America is going to have to wait a little while longer (the US, Canada, and Australia are expected to gain the app within months) but 11 European countries have now been blessed with iPlayer for the Apple iPad. This is seen as a year-long experiment to see how successful a wider and longer rollout would prove to be.
For 6.99 Euros-per-month or 49.99 Euros-per-year iPad owners can gain on-demand access to 1,500 hours of content which includes both new and classic shows. Doctor Who, Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, and Sherlock are just some of the shows featured.
Well here’s a turn up for the books. BSkyB, one of the BBC fiercest critics and a former protester against YouView, suddenly wants in on the action alongside other interested media companies. I think I’d tell Murdoch Jr. where to go, personally.
The BBC is committed to expanding its iPlayer service beyond the borders of the U.K. And it looks as though it will be arriving sooner rather than later, and for a sum of money that should entice lots of people to jump on board.
The BBC is a forward-looking company, usually. It can afford to because it’s funded by us, the loyal taxpayers. This does, however, mean good things when it comes to online video.
YouView has officially been delayed until 2012, at least. The question is whether this is the final nail in the coffin of the BBC-backed connected device or whether it still stands a chance of succeeding.
