BBC iPlayer: technical issues but content good

The BBC launched an open beta version of iPlayer on 27 July, an on-demand TV service delivering BBC TV programmes direct to the PC.

BBC iPlayer allows UK licence fee payers to download programmes broadcast in the last seven days from all the BBC’s network TV channels.

Once a programme has been downloaded, viewers have up to 30 days in which to watch it. When the programme has been viewed, the file deletes itself from the PC.

Since the launch, reviews of the service have been mixed with some triallists complaining on chat forums about technical issues, while comments about the content on offer and download speeds have generally been complimetary.

BBC iPlayer will eventually be available from bbc.co.uk and via links from YouTube and other potential distribution partners such as MSN, telegraph.co.uk, AOL, Tiscali, Yahoo!, MySpace, Blinkx and Bebo.

Viewers will be able to watch promotional clips of programmes on sites such as YouTube and then link back to BBC iPlayer on bbc.co.uk, in order to download the full programme.

iPlayer was created and developed by the BBC’s Future Media & Technology division in partnership with Siemens who provided the delivery technical infrastructure and Red Bee Media who was responsible for content ingest, transcoding and quality control.