BBC iPlayer on Wii!

Grim... · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 14:56

Quote:

The BBC has said its iPlayer video service will shortly be available on Wii.

This lets you download and stream BBC programmes that you may have missed, like News 24 with Peter Sissons and his voice.

An early version of the iPlayer will be available today, with more polished versions to be offered as and when they are ready. You can get it from the Internet Channel on Wii for a small one-off fee, although the BBC has said it is looking at ways to make it free in the future.

"This exciting alliance with the BBC is yet another way in which Nintendo is looking to broaden the market for its products by offering compelling and relevant content to families," added David Yarnton, bossman of Nintendo UK.

"BBC iPlayer on Wii will offer Wii owners another reason to turn their console on everyday and adds to the already established non gaming content on Wii that includes news and weather channels and an Internet browser."

More than 17.2 million of you used the iPlayer to download or stream content, apparently, and more than 42 million programmes have been watched since the iPlayer launched last Christmas.

Last month the BBC also rolled the service out on Apple's iPhone and the iPod Touch.

This can only be a fucking good thing.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 14:59

I am very pleased by this turn of events.

andyb · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 489

They should call it Wiiplayer :bulb:

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 15:15

andyb wrote:

They should call it Wiiplayer :bulb:

WiiiPlayer surely?

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 15:16

WiiiPlayer from the BearBC

Bluecup · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 925

They should make it more clear that you use the iplayer though the internet channel.

Will try it out tonight. :nerd:

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 15:23

SUPERFUCKINGAWESOMEKAWABUNGADUDES

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

This is really, really massive.

Especially as they talk about getting a free stand alone version (that doesn't require you to buy the internet channel).

A iPlayer channel on your Wii front end would 1) be awesome and 2) kinda make the Wii the biggest play on demand player in the country. Even pushing Sky+.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 15:24

Quote:

...added David Yarnton, bossman of Nintendo UK.

David Yarnton, this morning.

myp · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 15:27

Have I missed something with this polar bear thing?

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 15:29

Quote:

...added David Yarnton, bossman of Nintendo UK.

David Yarnton, this morning.

andyb · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 489

Lave wrote:

This is really, really massive.

Especially as they talk about getting a free stand alone version (that doesn't require you to buy the internet channel).

A iPlayer channel on your Wii front end would 1) be awesome and 2) kinda make the Wii the biggest play on demand player in the country. Even pushing Sky+.

I suppose there's no reason (apart from corporate cuntery) that they couldn't do the same on the PS3. The xbox360 would be more tricky, due to the walled garden nature of the online service.

Grim... · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 15:59

It doesn't even work on *nix yet, I don't think.

andyb · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 489

iPlayer runs on flash at the moment (I think) but not the current version that's on the PS3. Assuming they sort out the licensing with macromedia, there's no reason why an update couldn't be written.

Sheepeh · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2320

Couldn't you install Linux on the PS3 and run it through that? iPlayer deffo works on Ubuntu, for I have used it.

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 16:10

It's slightly annoying that it works infinitely better on my iPhone than on an actual full-size mac computer. The flash browser version is rubbish, it only caches about 3 seconds, and the encoding isn't as good.

andyb · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 489

yep, streaming should work on anything than can play flash, downloading only works for windows xp and vista.

from the iPlayer site:

Quote:

What if I don't run Windows, can I still download?

The file sharing and digital rights management (DRM) technology we use is only compatible with Windows XP and Vista. We are aware of demand to expand this to other operating systems, please check at a later date for any further news.

Streaming works on any computer that can run the latest version of Flash and all programmes available to download should also be available to stream as Click to Play, although technical issues may occasionally mean that this is not the case.

andyb · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 489

kalmar wrote:

It's slightly annoying that it works infinitely better on my iPhone than on an actual full-size mac computer. The flash browser version is rubbish, it only caches about 3 seconds, and the encoding isn't as good.

so the ipod/iphone version is a download rather than streaming?

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 16:20

andyb wrote:

kalmar wrote:

It's slightly annoying that it works infinitely better on my iPhone than on an actual full-size mac computer. The flash browser version is rubbish, it only caches about 3 seconds, and the encoding isn't as good.

so the ipod/iphone version is a download rather than streaming?

I think so. The iPhone doesn't do proper streaming yet.
Just after they launched it, it was actually possible to set your browser type to "safari portable" (or something) and save out the entire programme, un-hindered in any way. I did that extensively but they've made it a bit more complicated now.
Anyway, the point is you can start watching something, pause it for 5 minutes and then watch the rest un-interrupted, even if you've got a rubbish internet connection like me. I'd speculate that it even works over the edge data thing due to that, but haven't tried it.

On Windows there's the p2p-downloady-DRM-y thing of course, which they're obviously locked into and can't deliver to other platforms. >:|

Whomper · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 107

The technical skinny on the Wii implementation can be found here: BBC Internet Blog.

In short - at the moment, it's just a backend change made at the Beeb to let the crappy Flash 7 that comes with the Wii Internet Channel use the iPlayer. They're investigating other possibilities in future, probably a free channel, but don't know what technology will drive this yet. This will also presumably make the iPlayer available to all the other platforms still stuck on Flash 7.

What a misleadingly vague and rubbish press release. I was well excited about this. I suppose it's still not bad, but it's not a dedicated channel - yet. Adobe need to realise they're making people hate them and release Flash 9 for the Wii.

EDIT: Top, top marks to the Beeb for using the old BBC Microcomputer Owl on their Internet Blog.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Oooooh! If only I didn't have to manually assign the Wii another IP every day, I'd be using this right now. Stupid router.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

Whomper wrote:

EDIT: Top, top marks to the Beeb for using the old BBC Microcomputer Owl on their Internet Blog.

That and their honest technical assistance:

Quote:

If you’re experiencing buffering issues, try turning off those P2P downloads that are running on other computers around your home.

GovernmentYard · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5318

The flash business - it is about time, and a welcome fix.

Also, smart, smart business by Nintendo, NoE finally got something right, to think I was jealous of the Japanese TVguide channel! They really need to get the dedicated channel running though, as the machine needs a killer app bundled with it to shift a few extra units.

andyb · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 489

Goatboy wrote:

The flash business - it is about time, and a welcome fix.

Also, smart, smart business by Nintendo, NoE finally got something right, to think I was jealous of the Japanese TVguide channel! They really need to get the dedicated channel running though, as the machine needs a killer app bundled with it to shift a few extra units.

Looking at the blog that was linked to, NoE did precisely fuck all, the BBC realised it was never going to work as is, so re-encoded all the content to work on the old flash version. The BBC hope that, one day, they can get their own Wii Channel, but I'm not holding my breath for it any time soon.

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

Sort-of related iPlayer-style shenanigans:

http://code.google.com/p/xbmc-iplayer/

iPlayer plugin for XBMC? Yes please! It uses the iPhone versions of programmes and it has to download the entire program to your Xbox's HD before it can play it, but as long as you have a reasonably fast connection and aren't fussed about instant access, you could use it to queue up a programme for later.

CUS · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 21:04

tossrStu wrote:

Sort-of related iPlayer-style shenanigans:

http://code.google.com/p/xbmc-iplayer/

iPlayer plugin for XBMC? Yes please! It uses the iPhone versions of programmes and it has to download the entire program to your Xbox's HD before it can play it, but as long as you have a reasonably fast connection and aren't fussed about instant access, you could use it to queue up a programme for later.

Really, that is at least 7x cooler than the Wii iPlayer. Fucking awesome. *blows dust off custom Xbox*

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

At one point, someone vaguely BBC-affiliated turned up on the XBMC forum expressing an interest in getting an iPlayer plugin up and running but I don't know what became of that; maybe their higher-ups weren't too into the idea of officially supporting a media player that you can only run on an Xbox if you've done naughty things to it.

It'd be great if they did get it working with streaming and eveything, though.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:01

And on PS3: http://www.ps3iplayer.com/

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:15

I tried the iPlayer briefly last night and came to the conclusion that my telly was crap.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Remember how we all said this was a nice thought, but we wanted a standalone channel for the Wii that actually did a good job of it.

Well, looks like they are releasing a standalone channel.

BBC iPlayer becomes Wii Channel

Quote:

A dedicated BBC iPlayer Channel will be available to download from November 18th, granting Wii owners access to on-demand catch-up TV and radio programming. The channel will offer a new full-screen user interface and higher quality videos.

Yay, it sounds like it will actually be usable now.

Let's hope it's good.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Fri Nov 13, 2009 15:19

Smashing.

I'll be able to use my Wii again for something.

devilman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 13, 2009 17:23

Excellent. I'm currently alternating between Smash Bros Brawl and Wii Fit (in not very equal measures) at the moment and not missing the 360 much, so I'll just need to clear a bit of space for the iPlayer - I'm at the stage where I'm having to put Virtual Console games on memory cards now.

Mr Dom · **Posted:** Fri Nov 13, 2009 20:21

I've been using the PS3 IPlayer a fair bit, its nice once you manage to find what you are looking for (typing using a controller is never going to be a fun experience)

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Fri Nov 13, 2009 20:28

Mr Dom wrote:

I've been using the PS3 IPlayer a fair bit, its nice once you manage to find what you are looking for (typing using a controller is never going to be a fun experience)

That's why I have a keyboard readily switchable between PS3, xbox and PC.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:29

It's why I bought an expensive chatpad extension for my 360 pad, too. Typing's a doddle on that, even though I can never remember the positions of any special characters.

Nik · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1982

Mr Dave wrote:

Mr Dom wrote:

I've been using the PS3 IPlayer a fair bit, its nice once you manage to find what you are looking for (typing using a controller is never going to be a fun experience)

That's why I have a keyboard readily switchable between PS3, xbox and PC.

Out of curiosity, how are you switching? Some kind of KVM switch?

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 13:27

T'was a simple home made usb switcher, but that broke while I was reconfiguring the layout a week or two back, so now simply by plugging an unplugging the usb cable, with the plugs all within 5cm.

Zen-Chan · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 326

iPlayer channel available for free download from the wii shop. It appears to be quite excellent based on a quick go.

Be Excellent To Each Other

BBC iPlayer on Wii!

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