BBC iPlayer launch date set

Posted by Martin Stabe on 27 June 2007 at 12:00
Tags: AOL, BBC, Bebo, Blinkx, MSN, Telegraph.co.uk, Tiscali, Yahoo, YouTube, iplayer

The BBC’s much-delayed on-demand broadband service is to launch on 27 July, the Corporation announced this morning.

The iPlayer software, which is currently being beta-tested by 15,000 people, will be available for download from the BBC site, and will allow UK-based viewers to download a programme. Once downloadeed, they will be available to watch for up to 30 days. The programme deletes itself once watched. The BBC has a video of the iPlayer’s interface, and Digital Spy has some screen grabs.

The iPlayer will also be linked to from YouTube, and potentially other “distribution partners” later this year. The Corporation said it is in talks with potential distribution partners including Telegraph.co.uk, MSN, AOL, Yahoo!, Tiscali, MySpace, Blinkx and Bebo.

Ashley Highfield, the Beeb’s director of new media and technology says developing Mac and Vista versions is “absolutely on our critical path”.