BBC thinking of bringing iPlayer to revamped Apple TV?

Yeah, the BBC seems to be quite the indecisive bunch, but according to a recent blog posting by Ashley Highfield (Director, BBC Future Media And Technology), its iPlayer may actually see face time on Apple's revised Apple TV platform. Quite frankly, details are far too thin to actually make anything of this just yet, but he does note that the "effective relaunch of the AppleTV... coupled with its (long anticipated) move to a rental model, means that we can look to getting BBC iPlayer onto this platform too, as we should be able to use the rental functionality to allow our programs to be downloaded, free, but retained for a time window, and then erased, as our rights-holders currently insist." The post goes on to touch on a number of IP to TV-related topics, but not once does it mention actually being in talks with Cupertino to make this happen. Guess it's wait-and-see from here, eh?

[Via Electronista]

[Mr Lizard @ Jan 17th 2008 1:13PM]

I suppose if they release content on the Apple TV, then they'll have to release it on the XBOX service aswell and on any other home internet-tv device. After all, there was uproar when they made iPlayer Windows only originally.

[x20mar @ Jan 17th 2008 1:42PM]

Yeah I have to agree with you. I found it rather funny when the bbc was order to make the iplayer advilable on all platforms, just in case they had tv licence payers who used linux or a mac (most likly true) but since they're making it for OSX I guess they must of thought oh well, why not?

[Mr Lizard @ Jan 17th 2008 6:13PM]

I was one of the mac heads who felt a bit miffed about not being able to access the iPlayer originally. I think the BBC will find theirselves in the hot seat quite often in the future as they start making their content available on these various devices. After all, their remit demands they show no commercial bias.

[bob @ Jan 17th 2008 1:32PM]

how about proper osx support 1st, baby steps bbc, into the 21st century

[Bethany Corcoran @ Jan 17th 2008 1:58PM]

If they make it support the new Apple TV software, by extension it'll support the latest version of iTunes (which will mean OS X and Windows support). Still leaves Linux without (official) support other than the streaming video thingy (which works fine except the quality is a bit lacking).

[drummerjoe @ Jan 17th 2008 1:43PM]

I surely hope that Apple moves into this type of distribution for tv shows as well. More free tv shows (either ad supported or not) or the rental of tv shows for less than a $1 would really boost the apple tv.

[blinkcowz182 @ Jan 17th 2008 1:55PM]

Why not just sell stuff on iTunes? I'd gladly pay up for a season pass to Top Gear and Hotel Babylon. Since US TV is all reality shows now because of the writer's strike, they could stand to make some money!

[zi44y @ Jan 17th 2008 2:10PM]

Hang on PAY AGAIN. I paid already, BBC licence fee. in UK, you have a tv, you pay licence fee, no ifs no buts, end of.....

[Steven Haskayne @ Jan 17th 2008 4:44PM]

im pretty sure this would not be a chargable service as it is currently provided free on the iPlayer website, so your current TV licence should cover it, perhaps their would be a registration stage with ur TV licence number?

Either way this beckons a new era in entertainment, hopefully ITV and Channel 4 will follow suit!

[r3loaded @ Jan 17th 2008 4:11PM]

I can already imagine a phenomenon of TV license numbers being posted around the interweb...

[Mr. S. @ Jan 17th 2008 2:10PM]

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE DO THIS!!!!

I might for once actually get a see a full Top Gear!

In other news.... broadcast in america is stupid.

[r3loaded @ Jan 17th 2008 4:07PM]

Mr. S., www.finalgear.com has all the Top Gear and Fifth Gear love that you need. Who needs iPlayer and its crappy DRM?

[Mr. S. @ Jan 17th 2008 6:40PM]

ZOMG!

Bless you my son, and may you have many virgins in the afterlife.

[Neil @ Jan 17th 2008 2:12PM]

Lets see an ABC player page that lets you watch this season's Grey's Anatomy or something. I think something like that and we might have to drop satellite entirely.

[MickeyMoo @ Jan 17th 2008 2:19PM]

http://dynamic.abc.go.com/streaming/landing?lid=ABCCOMGlobalMenu&lpos=FEP

[Neil @ Jan 17th 2008 4:51PM]

Exactly. Can you hit that through your ATV?

[Michael Schmitt @ Jan 17th 2008 9:11PM]

I was at abc.com and was asked to participate in a survey and that is exactly what I put in the final comments. I'd be willing to watch streaming video (in HD no less) from abc.com with a limited commercial interference for the ability to watch it through my AppleTV. abc.com already has it for the small screen of my computer, just take the step and make it convenient for the audience to watch whatever they want WHENEVER they want. I even suggested that, because the show was coming through a computer, one should be able to CHOOSE the type of commercial that they would be seeing right before the show streamed in. I'd love to watch Lost and choose the commercials that would educate me about Apple products rather than watching Lost and being forced to watch women standing on sand dunes with their arms in the air and the wind blowing the towels that they are holding over their heads as I find out about feminine hygiene.

[jm @ Jan 17th 2008 2:39PM]

BBC and the rest of the UK media tv stations are treating the internet like a bunch of facists.

Whats exactly is the point of putting live tv broadcasts on the WORLD WIDE WEB that are only viewable by UK domains.

I say this, because it seems only be a UK phenomenon, unlike the other european countrieslike germany and holland where much of their live tv programming is avaible to anyone.

[noog @ Jan 17th 2008 3:27PM]

Alot of american IPTV is restricted to just US ip addresses too, it's not just the UK.

Also (as you probably know) the BBC is state funded, they have a duty to make it as easily accessible to the uk public. However, it's not impossible that eventually the BBC's content will go worldwide on a pay-for or ad-supported basis. (I believe this is already planned/proposed for the BBC News website.

[Vanillacide @ Jan 17th 2008 7:45PM]

Yeah right, like anyone outside the USA can watch any of the big American broadcasters 'free' content over the web.

[Nutsy @ Jan 18th 2008 12:42PM]

"Yeah right, like anyone outside the USA can watch any of the big American broadcasters 'free' content over the web."

And in those same ways US people can see most major British shows.

[madwh @ Jan 17th 2008 3:46PM]

check out the Air version of iPhone http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_Air

[ptui @ Jan 17th 2008 5:32PM]

It's the combination of IP checking and license-fee paying doing in non-UK residents. Services such as http://www.remotetv.co.uk handle all of the dirty work for you, including license fee. It all happens through Slingbox. A company like this should also provide a real UK internet connection at an appropriate up speed for streaming video.

Free-to-air satellite digital channels are available to check out on Freeview. Sky also has a box providing a similar service. It's a bit like a Dish vs DirecTV duopoly.

Failing all that, the only way I could see to do it otherwise would be to find a proxy server in a UK domain and continue to swap your servers as needed.

Back in the day, I had a UK buddy I'd swap videotapes with, paying postage as needed and having the VHS tapes (he had a world-standard recorder) show up about seven days after playing. If my buddy and I were still watching that much TV, I'd have him put the "other brand" of box on his house somewhere and connect it to Sling. On my part, I'd just get a digital-to-analog connector box and point it at the transmitters. (Or is that step necessary?)

[Matthew Ledger @ Jan 17th 2008 5:37PM]

I already have the iPlayer on my BT Vision box so it doesn't seem too far fetched ... BT are supposed to be doing something similar to BT Vision on the 360 though so who's to say where the iPlayer will end up ...

[bixby @ Jan 17th 2008 7:10PM]

I have a friend in the position to confirm that the BBC are also working on iPhone/iPod touch versions of the iPlayer. Believe me, don't believe me, but just to let y'all know.

[karmaghost @ Jan 17th 2008 7:53PM]

The larger picture with the three guys in it with face paint and such... the lighter skinned guy looks like his wang is hangin' out.

[griff @ Jan 18th 2008 6:33AM]

You know iPlayer is already a YouTube-like flash streaming service at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer ?

You can get that on any platform as long as you have a flash plugin...

[Galley @ Jan 18th 2008 8:15AM]

Apple TV needs two things to rule the world.
1. IPTV
2. MLB.TV Premium

[Dave 8o) @ Jan 18th 2008 8:33AM]

I'm nearly tempted to get an AppleTV, all my music and some video is already on iTunes so it would be an ideal option. If only Apple weren't charging an extra $200 for the privilege of buying it in the UK, they're made in China and I can't imagine it costs that much more to bring them to the UK instead of the USA.

[Jules @ Jan 18th 2008 9:00AM]

My thoughts exactly.