BBC iPlayer Available on Xbox LIVE

LONDON: Microsoft has brought the BBC iPlayer VOD service to its Xbox LIVE platform for users in the U.K.

The BBC’s popular VOD service is now available on every major gaming platform in the U.K. The launch also means that the BBC is the only British content provider to make its programs available for free to all Xbox 360 users in the U.K. Xbox 360 users with Kinect can also use the BBC iPlayer with voice- and gesture-controls.

Daniel Danker, the BBC’s general manager of programs and on-demand, said: “Xbox is hugely successful in the U.K. Given the BBC’s goal to reach its entire audience, I’m particularly excited that the BBC will be bringing iPlayer to all Xbox users at no extra cost as part of Xbox LIVE’s free membership.”

“As we continue our work to make BBC iPlayer as simple as possible, we’re also excited to experiment with natural user interfaces made possible with Kinect, including voice and gesture control. We believe it’s early days for these experiences, but see a great future working with partners such as Microsoft on innovations like these.”

Stephen McGill, the director of Xbox and Entertainment for Microsoft, added: “We are delighted that BBC iPlayer is now available on Xbox LIVE. Xbox 360 was the best-selling console in the UK and globally last year, while Xbox LIVE is one of the U.K.’s leading comprehensive VOD entertainment services on TVs. The addition of BBC iPlayer takes the service to the next level. We offer a formidable lineup of the best TV and entertainment—both live and on-demand—from providers such as Sky, Channel 4, Channel 5, Netflix, LOVEFiLM, Blinkbox, MSN, YouTube and many others.

“The way people interact with entertainment content is changing. Xbox LIVE is the only service in the world where you can search, discover and control TV, movies, video and music using voice and gesture via the power and magic of Kinect.”