BBC's iPlayer launches Christmas Day
What do you mean you're busy?
Regcast training : Hyper-V 3.0, VM high availability and disaster recovery
The official launch, or "marketing launch", of the BBC's iPlayer is happening on Christmas Day.
A spokeswoman for the Beeb assured us it was a good time to launch because of the all the great content the BBC puts on for Christmas. At least we can all watch the Queen's speech a couple of extra times. The player needs Windows XP or Vista to work, and gives UK residents access to the last seven days of BBC TV content.
The spokeswoman said: "Marketing launch means we'll be trailling the service on TV, radio and posters." She added that the streaming service, for those without Windows XP or Vista, will "hopefully" launch within the next two weeks.
The Beeb's iPlayer project has suffered from controversy over the way it uses Microsoft technology to play content. The corporation hired two ex-Microsoft men, Erik Huggers and Jon Billings, to join its digital media teams. The iPlayer project is led by Anthony Rose, formerly of Kazaa.
The service has been in beta testing since July and busy messageboards reveal some users are having problems with the service. The technical issues pages have 2,984 posts.®
COMMENTS
I checked.....
you don't need a TV licence provided you don't use the TV/monitors that you own to watch broadcast material.
I checked, as I download all the stuff I want to watch and stream it to the xbox media centre sat under the old gogglebox. No licence here, and the beeb said it was ok in an email, after I checked with them.
**************************************************************
Dear Mr John
Thank you for your recent enquiry.
The use of television sets, videocassette recorders, set-top boxes or DVD recorders to receive or record television programme services must be covered by an appropriate TV Licence. A licence is also required if a TV-enabled personal computer is used to record or receive television programmes.
If a videocassette recorder, a DVD recorder or a colour television is used, whether separately or together, a Colour TV Licence is required. The use of televisions as monitors solely for computer/video games does not need licensing.
If your television equipment is used to receive or record television programmes, you should buy a TV Licence at once. However, if your equipment is not used to receive or record television programmes, please let me know your address. I will then make sure our records are changed to show you do not need a licence. However, I should advise you to make sure that the television and video are not tuned to receive television broadcasts, it is also advisable to ensure the equipment is not connected to any aerials. One of our Visiting Officers may visit your home to check that the equipment being used does not receive broadcast signals.
I hope this information is helpful.
Yours sincerely
Brian James
TV Licensing
**************************************************************
Had no problems...
Controversial I’m sure but I have had no problems with both 4OD or iPlayer... in fact, I think they are both pretty good (ok, yes, IF you are using windows). iPlayer (as a player) has been very stable, no conflicts with 4OD either - the website its self has been flaky from time to time - as has 4OD. As for DRM, yeah it truly stinks but if I want a show forever I’ll download it via other means, if I just want to catch up on stuff I’ve missed and don’t want to be sitting in front of the TV they are very useful.
Unfortunately I think it's down to the point that those not on windows will – for now - just have to suck it up and wait (or do a dual boot)… those who don’t want it and just like complaining, continue as you are because I doubt anything will satisfy you completely.
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
What you need to know about cloud backup
Enabling efficient data center monitoring
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
Top 10 SIEM implementer’s checklist
