Kotaku: iPlayer

PS3 BBC iPlayer In The Works

Mike Fahey — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:00:00 MDT

The BBC recently launched their iPlayer television replay service for the Nintendo Wii, and that made PS3 owners a little miffed. Passing up the Xbox 360 with its lack of a web browser is one thing, but the PlayStation 3 is browser ready! Some went as far as to cobble together a solution on their own, a fact that impressed the hell out of BBC Head of Digital Media Technology, Future Media & Technology, Anthony Rose.

So, while I'm impressed that someone has done this, this doesn't mean that it's the best possible iPlayer proposition for that console. We're investigating the optimal video profile and browser proposition to enable us to officially make iPlayer available on PS3 in due course.

They don't want the iPlayer to run on the PS3 - they want it to run damn well. Patience, young BBC viewing PS3 owner!

BBC iPlayer On PlayStation 3? Not Yet [BBC Internet Blog via CVG]

The BBC Explains Why The BBC Went With Wii

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:40:24 MDT

The BBC announced earlier today, along with Nintendo, that the British broadcaster's iPlayer service has been tailored for Wii Internet Channel users. BBC dot.life blogger Darren Waters poses the question, "Why didn't it come to the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3?" Well, Waters writes, it's due to the assertion that Sony and Microsoft were less flexible, with BBC's Erik Huggers saying the corporations "want control of the look, the feel and the experience; they want it done within their shop, and their shop only."

Since the whole replay service is web-based, it will take some extra effort for Microsoft to get on board, but Waters theorizes that Sony adding iPlayer support to its PS3 browser is "almost inevitable." It doesn't mean much to those outside of the UK, but we certainly hope that the competition for services like the BBC's makes the suits hop to.

Wii becomes home of online video [BBC News dot.life - thanks, Ricardo!]

BBC iPlayer Now Wii Ready

Mike Fahey — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:20:00 MDT

Doctor Who is coming to the Wii...sort of! The BBC has announced that their iPlayer replay service will now be functional on the Nintendo Wii. The service, made available last month on the iPod Touch and iPhone, presents time-limited replays of BBC shows, such as Doctor Who, Torchwood, and whatever else they have worth watching. Wii owners in the UK will be able to browse to the page and grab their favorite shows.

"This exciting alliance with the BBC is yet another way in which Nintendo is looking to broaden the market for its products by offering compelling and relevant content to families," added David Yarnton, general manager of Nintendo UK.

Right now the iPlayer requires the Wii Internet Channel to function, but the BBC is looking into making it a standalone free feature in the future.

Wii gets BBC iPlayer [GamesIndustry.biz]