@Spartan1308:

good.

i hope this means we have to pay less for a TV licence.

if not...........

no cake for you!

dammmn if i have to pay for someone to watch TV.

*grumble*

Onizuka-GTO

@Klopfer123: The BBC site actually states, "...BBC Worldwide is working on an international version, which we will make available as soon as possible." So they are at least stating that they are working on an international version. It would make sense if it is ad supported as that is how all of the U.S. networks are streaming video now.

Spartan1308

Currently its so much easier to download iPlayer WMV content on my laptop to a shared network storage on the network and have the 360 play it natively in a hell of a lot better quality than the iPlayers streaming would be on the ps3

NecronomiconUK

OK lets try this a point at a time.
You DO NOT need a license in the U.K. to watch B.B.C. channels using the Iplayer because they are not shown live.
Even if you have a T.V. if you don't have the ability to watch live TV you do not need a license.
The Beeb is nowhere near as good as it was in say, the 70's. Most of the stuff is crappy reality T.V. and dumbed down documentaries.
The Iplayer doesn't scale to well on the wii but hopefully that will be changed when they manage to get a dedicated channel thingy sorted.
The Beeb do run a download service, however it is a bloated pile of annoying crap that only allows you to watch a programme within a time limit in their player and allows other people to download from you eating up your bandwidth. Trust me it stinks, watching without the download is much better. I tried using it but got incredibly annoyed at the damn thing very very quickly. I wanted to stream a programme from my computer downstairs to the one upstairs through my network for when I am bedridden. For the life of me I couldn't work out how to do it.
What I would really love to see is the Beeb stop using bloody real player/windows media to stream radio programmes. The ability to listen to radio 4 using the wii would far outstrip any of the other stuff available.

Weirdwolf

@ixalon: Wow, nicely done mate! I'm been enjoying you fine work quite a lot over the weekend :) I'm sure Anthony will follow through on his word. These BBC types generally have a lot of integrity. I bet you were worried when you finally decided to put it up on the internet seems to of paid off!Cangratulations :)

1981suede

@1981suede: Yep, I've been in touch with Anthony so will wait to see what happens. All very exciting! :)

ixalon

@Klopfer123:
Yeah, me too.

@ixalon: It was you? Hey you know they have a job for you!

Garo

Microsoft IPTV?

TheTime

@Accordion: I'm guessing they are trying to make best use of their limited resources whilst trying to provide the best "product" possible. It's clear that the current ps3iplayer.com is just a quick fix with no optimization in terms of bitrate, codec, aspect ratio etc. The BBC will try to get it as good as possible before making it available on the PS3.

1981suede

Imagine putting a video player on a system with a hard drive... and a video player.

Maybe someday they'll offer downloads... don't they already from various sources? Can't you just grab BBC eps from Vuze or something and drop them onto the PS3?

I guess what I'm getting towards is that this story hasn't made sense from the start. It sounds like they've nicely made a low quality version official on the Wii. Unless they've closed the door on everything else I think other console owners should already have a way to watch BBC shows on their systems. (...right? I haven't tried...)

fuchikoma

@ixalon: Did you make ps3iplayer.com? Your opening paragragh makes it sound as though that could be the case. If so I'd take Anthony Rose up on his offer quick stylee.

1981suede

Hey, I never expected it to actually be region free. I'd just like it to be is all.

Rebochan

@1981suede:

But actively not supporting a system that can use the same page and advertising Wii support goes against that thought.

The same occurred when i-player was Windows only.
Actively withholding support is never justifiable, especially when it is artificial.

Accordion

I've got to give credit to the BBC here; I was expecting lawyers to come beating down my door, but they've been far more supportive than I ever hoped. :-)

Ps3iplayer.com is certainly a quick fix to get something basic up and running on the console. When the official version does show up, hopefully there will be a marked improvement in video quality especially in full-screen mode (SWF's scaling is horrid and the PS3's R3/R2 zoom is a bit fiddly) and have some way of avoiding the screen-saver kicking in every 15 minutes.

As for access being blocked outside the UK - it's so the license fee isn't devalued (and on the PS3 version also to cut down the excess bandwidth costs!)

PSP version: Unfortunately the PSP has an even more limited version of flash than the PS3 so unfortunately the BBC's flash interface doesn't work on the PSP. It would have to be a native application built with the support of Sony. Best option for the PSP is viewing via Remote Play.

ixalon

Actually they made a smart move going to the wii. Lets face it, we ps3 owners got it for hidef quality video in which this thing will never deliver. Knowing that, it would be a huge flop going with the ps3. So I'm not missing it, neither should the rest of you.

nxp3

@LittleBigPlaneteer: I'm still pretty sure the BBC's charter doesn't allow them to command fees for making this service more widely available. This is a quote directly from them:

"We have a commitment to platform neutrality and a remit to make our content as widely available as possible"

I'd say there is no way any money has exchanged hands between the BBC and Nintendo to make the iplayer available on the Wii.

1981suede

@lucky_7s:

Actually we get all those shows, either on HBO or BBCA (BBC America). Kind of a God send for a Brit like me living in the States.

SlamInATL

as a english person...its quite funny to see the praise that british tv gets in america...but it doesn't really bother me as ill have BBC on my PS3 freeview tele thing when that decides to come out...but for folks in the states, i can imagine this is quite a cool thing for you guys...you people dig british comedy like the office, extras and little britian and shiz dont you?

lucky_7s

@1981suede:

Oh I see where my statement might have confused you, but I wasn't referring to people having to pay for it, but rather that people that own a PS3 were accessing it on a console that was not officially licensed to have the iPlayer. I'm sure they're thinking is "people obviously want this service, so let's work with Sony and get it to them". It's completely beneficial to them because of the licensing fees that would obviously be involved.

LittleBigPlaneteer

@1981suede:

Where did I say BBC was charging people? I specifically mentioned licensing fees with the head companies (i.e. Nintendo and Sony). You don't actually think BBC is providing the iPlayer on the Wii absolutely free do you?

The fact that they see the same service on the PS3 without any licensing contracts for that console is the main reason they're now thinking about doing the same with Sony.

LittleBigPlaneteer

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Err the BBC don't charge for iPlayer apart from the license fee which all TV owning households in the UK must legally purchase. There is no facility on the iPlayer to charge anyone and it will remain that way. That's why it can't be accessed outside the UK, because noone outside the UK has paid for it.

I guess it could potentially be paid for by adverts like the BBC worldwide websites are but I find that unlikely...

1981suede

doctor who FTW:)!bad luck it not working in the states though:(

captain_laxpants

@Scarlet-Blaster: Well if you have a ps3 then you can use it over remote play like I do already....

If iPlayer was specially set up for the Wii then how come it looks so rubbish? The page width is totally wrong and they've not made any changes to the navigation. I think the reason it did reach the Wii first is because Nintendo are too god damn lazy to ask that the BBC make it fit correctly.

NecronomiconUK

Let's not act like BBC is doing something of goodwill here. They see that people on the PS3 are getting this service for free, so obviously they're going to try and work out their differences with Sony and get the iPlayer officially licensed (i.e. get paid for it).

LittleBigPlaneteer

Well I would so love this in the US but I know this will never happen.

As much as I like the office with Steve and the gang. I saw the UK version and I thought that one was good too. I also love Docter Who. So I would love to see more shows like these in the US.

I do agree that more so then none that when a TV show show comes to the US it is not that same. Even though I like the office like I said a lot of people will say it is not the same.

BlackIceJoe

Just waiting for it to come out on the PSP...

Scarlet-Blaster

@StabbyCutyou:
Gordon Ramsay isn't on the BBC in the UK, he's on Channel 4.

Malidictus

@Rebochan: if it was region-free then the BBC would be really screwing its funders - i.e. UK licence fee payers!
The BBC blog gave the reason for the wii being supported first was its attitude of opennes to the iplayer. They said that MS wanted to slather it in Xbox Live branding and presentation, and the same (to a lesser extent) with PSN influence on the PS3. The wii gave the Beeb the freedom to implement a BBC iplayer, not a Nintendo Wii iplayer.
also, i think it makes sense generally - wii was bought by loads of families, sits under a lot of tvs.

GMC

The reason this isn't available in america is because american companies remake our shows instead of airing the originals lol. Even extras got changed from the british version becuase it had people that americans might not recognise.

I don't see simpsons episodes being edited for us.

fadecy

So… the BBC is impressed that someone figured out that the BBC was enforcing incompatibility.

Again.

Accordion

I'd actually be upset if they made a BBC Player for PS3, but didn't release it in America...

Think of all the classic moments of Gordon Ramsey calling someone a BLOODY SODDING DONKEY that we'd miss.

If only to hear more of his insane debasement of well-meaning yet hapless chefs, I hope we get this kind of feature stateside

Plus, TopGear is pretty funny

StabbyCutyou

@Rebochan: It'll never be available outside of the UK unless it's funded by advertisements or some other revenue stream.

Kinda sucks they haven't released the software for the mac version yet, though this should wipe the need of that when it's released.

Klopfer123

@Rebochan:It'll never be region free, unless it's funded by advertisements for non UK countries.

Kinda sucks tho, I'm a mac user and I've been waiting for a mac release of the software for a while now, hopefully that'll be released first. >_>

Klopfer123

More widely available BBC programming is never a bad thing. This and PBS/NPR should be available on everything.

Grumps

If it were region free, I'd be a lot happier.

Still, brownie points for taking notice of the homebrew solution and realizing the need to craft another one. I like my Wii and all, but I was definitely scratching my head when it was the *only* console to get this kind of support.

Rebochan