iPlayer Goes Global with the BBC
iPlayer goes global today with the launch of a BBC iPad app containing the best of the BBC’s output.
The iPlayer iPad app will allow international viewers, initially from 11 European countries, to get access to on-demand streamed content from the BBC. Including classic programmes such as Faulty Towers & Only Fools and Horses, as well as up to date programming such as Doctor Who and Top Gear.
The iPlayer BBC download service is only available for UK users for a 7 day catch up and the live version only available if you have a UK TV license. The license is a annual fee every UK TV owner pays & is where the BBC gets it’s financing from. It means that they do not use any advertising.
Why is the iPlayer important?
Well, the iPlayer is one of the biggest, earliest and most successful streaming services on the market. It can stream content live or recorded, at a consistent high quality, including HD and cope with some serious load.
The BBC reported 145 million requests in December 2010 alone. It is also available for all formats including games consoles, mobiles, internet enabled TV’s or players.
Backing up this technical wizardry is the BBC corporation, the original TV broadcaster and it’s millions of hours of programmes. Programmes such as Top Gear are watched already by 100′s millions of viewers each week around the world on TV and this can only increase as the iPlayer goes global.
From today, for a monthly or yearly fee, European viewers can get access to what the BBC considers it’s best content via the iPlayer app on the iPad. Other formats will follow.
A US launch is likely to follow after the European launch. At the moment the BBC operates a cable channel in the US but it’s reach is limited.
Successful programmes usually get bought up by the big US channels and remade. This may give the BBC a stronger foothold in that market to push it’s own versions.
In the UK some of the most popular programs are the iPlayer Doctor Who version and the iPlayer EastEnders version. Both have a potential global audience of millions more viewers.
Other players in the UK market have their own versions. There is a ITV Player, a Channel 4 iPlayer, a Channel 5 iPlayer, an E4 iPlayer and a Sky iPlayer version. They are not all called the iPlayer but you get the drift. Some are more successful than others as they try and keep up with the BBC giant.
The BBC has been looking at sharing the iPlayer platform with other broadcasters, so it could be that they will switch onto the same technology and coding. As the BBC is publicly funded by the license fee it is often obliged to share it’s knowledge, experience and technology.
Comments