The Wii gets streaming TV from the BBC

The BBC's iPlayer TV catch-up service is making its way to the Nintendo Wii today. British residents who navigate to www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer using Opera's Internet Channel browser will be greeted by the same selection of streaming programs made available for PC users.

The BBC promises to bring a slightly updated version in the coming months that will add additional functionality, the same way Opera did with the specially designed version of its browser made just for the Wii. Best of all, it will be a standalone channel app. The BBC's Anthony Rose hopes this will fit the needs of users who don't want to have to load up the browser and navigate to their iPlayer bookmark, or pay for the Internet application in the first place.

This is the first time the iPlayer has made its living room debut. Previously the only way to get iPlayer programming on your TV set was by hooking up your home PC or laptop to your television. Enterprising iPhone users were also able to take advantage of the streaming on their TV sets, as long as they had the AV cable pack and a universal dock, which costs about ?70.00 ($139) combined.

Previous iPlayer coverage:
iPlayer gets iPhone support
BBC's iPlayer getting Mac version in 2008, Web version continues to dominate usage
BBC moving to Adobe Flash, iPlayer on the Web soon
BBC puts shows online

[Scott Gardener]

Of course, all this is moot for now for those of us stuck over here on the wrong continent. Appearantly it's only available to those living in the UK. And we had to make a fuss about quartering Red Coats and hurling tea shipments into the ocean.

[illithar]

I feel you pain Scott, I just don't get this, in my view "irrational" trying to tie internet content to national boundary. The UK must have many ex-pats in the US (they are not eligible for the Green Card Lottery, so they must send more than 40,000 people evey 5 years one presumes). But while visiting my in-laws last year in the Republic of Ireland I had the reverse problem with trying to stream an NFL Packers game on my father-in-laws PC from memory you had to be in the US to use the NFL site. They where showing one game over there on cable but despite printing in their TV guide that they where showing both games on that day they only showed one (and not the one I wanted to see). Anyhow I did get it by hooking up to my Direct TV account online and having The Big Ticket and purchasing Super Fan (for a discount for what was left of the season) and a very helpful Direct TV rep.

But whats with this "must be in country" surely one of the biggest markets for this must be people who travel. It's like the "suspicious' activity on my air miles card for the longest time my card would be "declined" really requiring a phone call, but who in a foreign shop wants to call the US. Because I'd bought an internatiol airline ticket with my air miles card, flown to the country teh ticet was for, and then the same card issuer declines my card because I'm not in the States and that's suspicious?

Sorry had to vent that last bit.

[ackmondual]

dang. I know quite a few people here in the US who would enjoy BBC material. Perhaps one day this'll make the transition over the Atlantic

[stazzers]

I want my Doctor Who, dammit.

[kenwilfy]

Check out Sci-fi channel next Friday! They are adding the new Doctor Who to their Friday line up.