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If you want to watch TV online with the BBC iPlayer there are currently 5 platforms that support the BBC iPlayer application officially:

1. PC 2. Mac 3. iPod Touch 4. iPhone 5. Wii – the most recent addition on 9th April 2008.

Though watching video streaming online is now part of modern life due to the rise of sites like YouTube, watching TV online in the UK has really kicked off with the launch of the BBC iPlayer at the end of 2007. In it’s first 2 weeks the iPlayer was an instant hit with “over 3.5m programmes have been streamed or downloaded on demand” according to the BBC. In just a few months they’re now getting an average of 550,000 iPlayer requests per day as detailed in the blog post Daily BBC iPlayer requests pass half million from Broadbandtvnews.com - proof that the UK viewers were obviously keen for this application.

Look at the ‘most popular’ section on the iPlayer home page and you can see the variety of programs that the iPlayer is being used for, from factual to entertainment, including Doctor Who, Eastenders and the Apprentice. Showing that premium, high profile BBC TV shows are being reflected in the users’ online viewing. With so much of our other entertainment needs fulfilled online it was a much called for solution, enabling us to free watch TV online.

So what does the iPlayer do?

• This is only available in the UK (a commercial version of this is in the pipeline which will be available for non-UK users).
• The BBC iPlayer allows you to catch up with TV aired on the BBC from the last 7 days.
• You can either play programmes direct from the BBC iPlayer website, i.e. streaming, you’ll need Flash installed.
• Or you can download them using the iPlayer download manager software (Note: Windows Media Player 9 or a later version is required – see BBC iPlayer for details).
• Downloads are stored for viewing for up to 30 days.

Technical issues have followed the rise of the BBC iPlayer from launch, 3 of the main issues are ongoing:

1. A concern from ISPs being able to cope with the sudden huge demand for downloads.
2. Some platforms still only able to stream TV but unable to download programmes in particular for the Mac.
3. Access to the iPlayer from other platforms. As a result of this hackers were quick to adapt the application to work unofficially on other platforms, namely the PS3 and Xbox360.

Despite these problems watching TV online with the iPlayer in still increasing. The BBC says they’re working on bringing other platforms on board as the application is rolled out. Personally, I’d have thought that as this is a new way of watching TV for us in the UK, they have done well in providing an iPlayer that fits the average user’s needs i.e. using a PC with Windows. You can’t please everyone all at once, especially when you’re providing a free application (obviously you’re already paying your license fee). As long as in the long term they make sure they do allow access for as many as possible. Though I do wonder why they supported the Wii users before the Mac users, when there are surely more Mac users - possibly due to the Wii’s current appeal – is it just good marketing?

So for now, regardless of these issues the BBC iPlayer is the terrestrial UK TV channel to lead the way for watching TV online, giving us TV video on demand - when we want it and where the majority want it. It’ll be interesting to see how the Wii, as the biggest games console in the UK affects the number of people using the iPlayer.

I’ll be writing more on the BBC iPlayer soon including comparing the TV on demand and catch up TV services from other UK channels, so if you would like to receive updates please subscribe using the links below.

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