BBC to launch on-demand service

The BBC's iPlayer on-demand TV service has been given the green light, which will enable viewers to download their favorite programs in the near future.

The initial service will offer downloads of BBC programs for up to seven days after broadcast. The shows can be viewed for up to 30 days after download.

In addition, 15 percent of content will be "series stacked," in which selected series can be played in their entirety for 30 days following transmission of the final episode.

The approval further boosts the corporation's efforts to embrace the Internet and follows the recent content deal with YouTube and technology deals with Microsoft and with IBM.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "It's another platform for our audiences to get hold of BBC content."

The BBC's independent governing body, the BBC Trust gave the final go ahead on Monday following a "public value test" that garnered responses from around 10,500 individuals and organizations.

Diane Coyle, BBC Trustee and chair of the Trust's PVT steering group, said the consultation demonstrated considerable public support for iPlayer.

Ashley Highfield, the BBC's director of future media and technology, said the iPlayer is a critical part of the strategy to "maintain impact and relevance in a world where viewing and listening habits are shifting from linear to on-demand."

Mark Thompson, the BBC's director general, said he is delighted with the trust's decision to approve the proposals.

He added it is significant as these on-demand proposals are "at the heart" of the BBC's creative future. The launch date for the iPlayer service will be announced in the future.

Tim Ferguson of Silicon.com reported from London.

[UnnDunn]

Available outside the UK?

Does anyone know if this will be available outside the UK?

[imacpwr]

Re: Available outside the UK?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6607083.stm

[imacpwr]

Will it be a free service...???

Looking at the BBC's site also seemed to avoid the issue of costs
but if it's anything like Channel Five ( http://www.five.tv ) they
want £0.99 per episode of a given show. This surely wont be
very interesting since the total cost of all episodes during one
season would be more expensive then just buying the DVD in
the first place. And the added advantage of the DVD is it wont
vaporize on your harddrive after a given period of time.
Another negative point is the fact that the iPlayer would only be
Windows compatible at start-up with the promise (sometime in
the future) to include other platforms. The biggest
disappointment of them all is the fact that BBC programing will
only be downloadable in the UK.