BBC iPlayer to be available via Nintendo Wii

[triggerhappy]

Originally Posted by BBC News

The BBC's iPlayer video service will soon be available via the Nintendo Wii.
The video download and streaming service that lets people catch up with BBC programmes will soon be a channel on the hugely popular game console.
Early versions of the service will be available from 9 April but more polished software will be released as the service is developed.
The news comes as the BBC reveals a steep rise in the numbers of people using the iPlayer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7338344.stm

Pretty disappointing that they've spent their time developing this for a fairly niche market when they've still not bothered to sort it out properly for the Mac, but not to worry, I have a Wii too

[poprock]

I heard a very good interview with the head of the dev team on the iPlayer a couple of months back. They’re pretty open about their programme: They will develop the system for any medium out there, without preference or priority, in order of how easy it is for them to do so. For instance, they released the iPhone/iPod Touch version as soon as one of their coders figured out how to make it work well without needing Flash … not because of any grand launch priority plan, just because someone on the team had a eureka moment.

The iPlayer works beautifully on my Mac, anyway. So you can’t download and watch offline (thanks to Microsoft) … so what? The streaming player has worked flawlessly for me so far. I probably use it three or four times per week at the moment.

[triggerhappy]

Originally Posted by poprock

I heard a very good interview with the head of the dev team on the iPlayer a couple of months back. They’re pretty open about their programme: They will develop the system for any medium out there, without preference or priority, in order of how easy it is for them to do so. For instance, they released the iPhone/iPod Touch version as soon as one of their coders figured out how to make it work well without needing Flash … not because of any grand launch priority plan, just because someone on the team had a eureka moment.

The iPlayer works beautifully on my Mac, anyway. So you can’t download and watch offline (thanks to Microsoft) … so what? The streaming player has worked flawlessly for me so far. I probably use it three or four times per week at the moment.

Actually, I do recall hearing that you could stream stuff on a Mac now, just haven't given it a bash yet. I think I just lump it in with the other players that don't support Mac yet, blasted 4OD.

[Bobzilla]

I've found myself using it more often myself. Torchwood and Dr Who seem to have draged me into the habit

[poprock]

4oD and ITV Catchup not working at all is a bit of a shitter.

Should all be sorted soon though. BBC Worldwide’s share of the iPlayer, 4oD and ITV Catchup are almost ready to launch project Kangaroo. Whatever commercial name it ends up going under, the gist is that all three services are sharing technology. All three services will be available from one central hub, as well as through their existing locations, and the tech sharing will mean that they all eventually end up compatible with just about everything out there.

Between that, Joost and Hulu, I’m only really going to need traditional broadcast telly for Five and it’s subsidiaries.

[Woolies]

4OD only barely works on a PC anyways - I find it throughly unusable.

bbciplayer is almost the only tellybox I watch now though, bbc content & the quality of the player & streams does me just fine & dandy.

[m0nkeymafia]

Has any one managed to get any videos to actually play? I've had no joy at all.

[Joe Spinebuster]

Originally Posted by Draven

You have to upgrade the internet browser (through the shop channel) and then go to www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer.

I thought it was supposed to be a new channel on the Wii's opening page, rather than something you have to manually point a browser at?

[Draven]

Originally Posted by Joe Spinebuster

I thought it was supposed to be a new channel on the Wii's opening page, rather than something you have to manually point a browser at?

So did I, but it's still in beta stage, so you have to manually point to it just now, then later they will launch the channel when it's stable. Apparently.

[GreatKingRat]

Also, the iPlayer is now available on the PS3, unoficially... http://ps3iplayer.com.

[GreatKingRat]

Originally Posted by GreatKingRat

Also, the iPlayer is now available on the PS3, unoficially... http://ps3iplayer.com.

Heh, the guy who hacked the iPlayer Wii page for the PS3 has been offered a job by the BBC.