400 hours of BBC TV content available for downloading
Posted by Tyler Kinch on July 29th, 2007
The BBC has launched a massive online service allowing people to download some 400 hours of recent programming.
The service, launched Friday, will give viewers a choice from 70 per cent of the British broadcaster’s output, including popular programs such as EastEnders and Doctor Who. Programs from the previous week will be made available.
“Our vision is for BBC iPlayer to become a universal service available not just over the internet, but also on cable and other TV platforms, and eventually on mobiles and smart hand-held devices,” said the BBC’s Ashley Highfield, director of future media and technology.
Highfield said the BBC’s new service is a response to the popularity of video-sharing sites such as YouTube as well as competition from other U.K. networks such as Channel 4.
He says the audience is tiring of fixed TV schedules and viewers want the option of watching programs whenever they want to.
The service is free and is only available to people living in Britain with computers running the Microsoft XP operating system. It takes about 30 minutes to download an hour-long show.
Programs will be automatically deleted after viewing or after 30 days. Copyright protection software prevents the copying of shows.
For those of you in Great Britian who can take advantage of this service, check it out here.
August 6th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
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