BBC iPlayer on Apple TV

[monty77]

Hi all,

I read the blog entries earlier in the year with rumours of iPlayer support on the ATV but nothing has come to fruition.

It's something I'd really like to be able to do so is it possible? And if so, how?

Don't mind if it involves software patching but I don't want to open the thing up.

Cheers,
Monty

 

[Grasbak]

reading the BBC internet blogs i get the impression that Apple arent interested in iplayer support. All the work has come from the BBC side. Seemed most noticable now that the 'full' iplayer is coming to the N96 and not iphone/ipod touch (at least so far....)

Apple are only interested in selling content. Personally I think it would increase hardware sales in the UK if they collaborated with the Beeb & iplayer.

But then i notice the beeb doing series stacking now - meaning back episodes of series stay on for longer than 7 days. Maybe Apple saw that coming and realise it would damage sales through the itunes store (of BBC Worldwide programs)

Seems a shame as presumably they could deliver an HD iplayer to the AppleTV!

 

[dwright1974]

Hi

I Agree! I want the iPlayer for Apple TV!

I can't see how it would harm sales - The BBC sell DVD's off the said programmes and iPlayer is for the UK only so it wouldn't/shouldn't harm iTunes sales in other countries.

As you say, it's available for other platforms, including the Wii!

- D

 

[polar-blair]

I would get apple TV (oh and a HD TV at that) in a second if apple got iPlayer on there apple TV, I wouldn't harm itunes sales at all as there are no BBC programs on iTunes. If anything it would be profitable to Apple as more people would get an apple TV, If there was real HD content on the iPlayer for apple TV and also a live stream it would be fantastic.

Also youtube is on the apple TV that doesn't make money for apple, unless youtube pay them?

There is so much potential for apple TV, Apple just go for it, go crazy, show us what you can DO!

 

[Cabbit]

Apple should refuse the iPlayer coming onto the Apple TV because it will give the BBC another way to charge people for a TV license. I have a Apple TV and am more than happy to get programs and rent movies from iTunes i do not want stuck paying for the flipping BBC again, i have never watched BBC programs but have been charged for them for years.

 

[TheNightPhoenix]

Apple should refuse the iPlayer coming onto the Apple TV because it will give the BBC another way to charge people for a TV license. I have a Apple TV and am more than happy to get programs and rent movies from iTunes i do not want stuck paying for the flipping BBC again, i have never watched BBC programs but have been charged for them for years.

I would assume all or at least the majority of those who buy an Apple TV, already have a TV on which to watch it, and thus already pay the license fee.

Also it is already available as PC/Mac Wii and iPhone compatible versions none of which fall under the TV license.

 

[polar-blair]

The BBC expect all residents within the UK to have a TV license, if you do not they will come to inspect your house incase you are illegally watching TV. That is why BBC iplayer is offered free of charge because you are expected to have a TV license, Also BBC is great! Heroes anyone?

Well I think iplayer should come to apple TV and saying no because "I dont want to pay for a TV license" is a crap excuse not to have a feature on the apple TV that the majority of UK residents who have an apple TV would find great to have.

 

[Cabbit]

Yes indeed the BBC has visited my home and seen no ability to watch television content though this invasion on my home should not be allowed it is very easy to make BBC programs scrambled and subscription based for viewing rather than a blanket force on everyone.

 

[coogee]

Yes indeed the BBC has visited my home and seen no ability to watch television content though this invasion on my home should not be allowed it is very easy to make BBC programs scrambled and subscription based for viewing rather than a blanket force on everyone.

I've been 'got' twice. They run with the assumption every househould should have a TV licence.

I think your Home Invasion was a small price to pay for keeping those David Attenborough shows flowin'!

Scrambling the signal would mean hardware upgrade for 22 million households in England and Wales alone? Seems a bit pointless?

Times they are a changing in terms of media content delivery for the BBC. I'm sure there are plans to tie your viewing into your Mandatory ID Card maybe

 

[markintellect]

I've been 'got' twice. They run with the assumption every househould should have a TV licence.

I think your Home Invasion was a small price to pay for keeping those David Attenborough shows flowin'!

Scrambling the signal would mean hardware upgrade for 22 million households in England and Wales alone? Seems a bit pointless?

Times they are a changing in terms of media content delivery for the BBC. I'm sure there are plans to tie your viewing into your Mandatory ID Card maybe

It's not just that, if the Beeb wasn't paid for directly by the people: 1. It would be paid for by advertisements and that could distort the neutrality of their programming, like Sky News having a very pro-Murdoch viewpoint, or 2. Being paid for through the government, which could mean that a devious PM could warp BBC programming in his/her favour (DPR Korea, anyone?). Anyway, Apple would be the only people able to add this functionality unhacked. If they were to offer it, I would believe that it would come in the form of an tv App Store application.

 

[The Phazer]

I would get apple TV (oh and a HD TV at that) in a second if apple got iPlayer on there apple TV, I wouldn't harm itunes sales at all as there are no BBC programs on iTunes.

There are some BBC Worldwide programmes on iTunes, but not many. I doubt it's a factor.

Also youtube is on the apple TV that doesn't make money for apple, unless youtube pay them?

I suspect the difference is because YouTube is available in the US, hence Steve can watch and the project gets approved.

Phazer

 

[iPod user]

i use the iPlayer on my touch more than listening to music, i think its great and id love to see it coming to apple tv, but maybe apple would see that as a threat to people actually buying bbc shows through apple tv, personally i know ive bought bbc shows once or twice on impulse because i couldnt be bothered firing up the iplayer on my mac or touch.

 

[neiltc13]

There is so much complete nonsense flying around about the licence fee. It's quite disappointing really that no one has done anything to clarify it for the public. The law is:

You require a TV licence only to watch TV as it is being broadcast. If you only use iPlayer or other VOD services you do NOT require a TV licence, which also makes using iPlayer at work or in other unlicenced premises completely legal.

Similarly, you do not require a licence just because you own a TV. If you use your TV merely for DVD playback, as a second monitor for a computer or as a monitor for games consoles you don't need a licence. Even if your TV has a built in tuner you still don't need one unless you are actually using it to watch TV as it is being broadcast.

If a TV Licensing inspector visits your home you are under no obligation to let them in. They can only enter your home with a warrant issued by a court. To get this warrant they need to prove to the court that they believe you are watching television illegally. Quite how they do this without actually entering your home is beyond me. If you are not watching TV illegally and an enforcer visits your home you are perfectly within your rights to say "goodbye" and close the door in their face.

 

[kolax]

If a TV Licensing inspector visits your home you are under no obligation to let them in. They can only enter your home with a warrant issued by a court. To get this warrant they need to prove to the court that they believe you are watching television illegally. Quite how they do this without actually entering your home is beyond me. If you are not watching TV illegally and an enforcer visits your home you are perfectly within your rights to say "goodbye" and close the door in their face.

They have scanners to see what is receiving the transmissions - however if you live in an apartment/flat with a shared roof-top aerial, then they can't prove anything.

At my old flat, me and my mates eventually bought one because of the annoyance it was causing - we had two people interrupt us, and about 10 letters saying a warrant was being issued.

Kind of shot myself in the foot there though because I bought my new TV and put my flat address for the TV licensing people at the till point. I should have put my parents address.

And apparently, the time it takes and the money it costs to issue a warrant just isn't worth it, for a silly TV license.

The BBC are all about "scare tactics" now. Fail a criminal record if you fail to buy one etc.

The Ryder Cup wasn't shown live on the BBC (only highlights), the World Cup Qualifiers (both Scotland and England) aren't shown on the BBC, and they have missed out on FA Cup coverage too I believe. Why? Because it costs so much to get those TV rights.

Yet they blow away all our money on paying Jonathan Ross £20m a year and other crap.

[/rant].

 

[The Phazer]

The Ryder Cup wasn't shown live on the BBC (only highlights), the World Cup Qualifiers (both Scotland and England) aren't shown on the BBC, and they have missed out on FA Cup coverage too I believe. Why? Because it costs so much to get those TV rights.

Yet they blow away all our money on paying Jonathan Ross £20m a year and other crap.

If you're going to rant, at least try getting your facts straight.

The BBC paid Jonathan Ross' production company £18m over *three* years (ie £6 million a year) - that works out at about half the usual PACT indie tarriff for a show in that time slot. Just to make this extra clear, this means that replacing Ross with Traffic Cops would be twice as expensive. The Jonathan Ross deal is very cheap, which is why ITV and Channel 4 both bid even more money.

And £18m wouldn't even have bought one of those events, for only a few hours programming.

Phazer