BBC Gears Up for Launch of Revamped Online Video Player

LONDON, June 25: The BBC
is set to launch its new-look iPlayer in beta tomorrow, offering radio and TV
content in a single interface, among other enhancements.

Since its launch six
months ago, the online video player has recorded more than 100 million requests
to view programs. In May alone, there were 21.8 million requests to view, with
an average of some 700,000 per day.

"The next generation
of BBC iPlayer allows U.K. license-fee payers to catch up on their favorite BBC
TV and radio programs in one place—a completely unique on-demand
service,” said Erik Huggers, the BBC's group controller for future media and
technology. "Audiences are now able to experience the full range of BBC
content—some 250 TV programs currently available each week as well as all
the BBC radio networks—in a new and more accessible way, and all for
free.”

Audiences can access BBC
Radio from the last seven days or listen live, as well as rewind and fast
forward with the “Listen again” function. Another new feature, “Last played,”
allows users to resume watching programs at the point they left off. Other new
enhancements include combined TV and radio categories such as comedy and drama,
a larger playback screen and a TV schedule that allows users to plan their
viewing over the coming days.

In addition to being
accessible on PCs and Macs, the new BBC iPlayer will be available on the Apple
iPhone and iPod Touch, Nintendo Wii and on TV with cable platform Virgin Media.

—By Mansha Daswani