June 27, 2007
BBC to launch on-demand Web TV service
The BBC's on demand TV service, the BBC iPlayer, will launch to the public on 27 July, the corporation has revealed. BBC News reports.
"UK users will be able to download popular shows over the net seven days after broadcast to watch on their PC.
Later this year, the service will also be available via links from YouTube and could also appear on other websites such as MSN, Bebo, and Facebook.
At launch the application will only work on Windows PCs but a version for the Mac could be available by autumn.
Over time other features will be added to the iPlayer including live streaming of programmes, the BBC Radio Player and "series stacking", which will allow users to download episodes from series retrospectively.
... At launch users will be able to download programmes seven days after their first transmission and will then have up to 30 days to watch them.
Programmes will include popular series such as Life on Mars; soap operas such as EastEnders and documentaries such as Planet Earth. Initially, 400 hours of programming will be available.
Some sporting events, such as Euro 2008, will be offered through the iPlayer as the service expands.
Mr Highfield said that over a 2MB broadband connection half and hour of programming would take approximately half an hour to download.
Once viewed in entirety, programmes will be automatically deleted. "
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