2 August 2007
The BBC’s new online TV service has been launched in the UK, offering viewers the chance to download a selection of programmes from the last seven days. Hailed by director general Mark Thompson as ‘a big a milestone as the arrival of colour TV,’ the iPlayer allows viewers to watch their favourite programmes for up to 30 days after downloading them.
However the iPlayer has already come under fire by critics who question its technical reliability. Arash Amel, an analyst with research firm Screen Digest claimed,
I have supposedly been on the trial for the last two weeks but there has just been technical fault after technical fault.
It has also had to defend itself from controversy from open source advocates, enraged that the iPlayer will only be compatible on PCs with Windows XP on its launch. It has been argued that as part of the BBC’s responsibility to serve license payers, the service should not exclude Mac users and those who do not use Microsoft software.
There are similar services already available, such as 4OD from Channel 4, which offers programmes from across its range of channels and ITV’s broadband media player which both also rely on Microsoft software.
The BBC Trust has ordered a review of the iPlayer every six months and has told the corporation it must widen the access to iPlayer as soon as possible. After meeting with the Trust, Mark Taylor, head of the Open Source Consortium said,
They reiterated their commitment to platform neutrality, specifically mentioning Linux, and welcomed our offer of help to establish a cross-platform approach.
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