This is why we won't get BBC iPlayer on Apple TV in the UK

[tiptopp]

I've just seen this: http://www.youview.com/.

As it appears to have as it's partners all of the terrestrial TV companies, I can't see them giving away all of the same stuff to Apple as well. It also does the whole Freeview and PVR thing.

I was tempted by Apple TV, and the price is almost good enough to simply try it and see how it works out, but now I don't know... Maybe Youview will incorporate Airplay?

TT

 

[roidy]

PS3 has BBC iPlayer
Nintendo Wii has BBC iPlayer
Most set top boxes can access BBC iPlayer
All computers with an internet connection can access BBC iPlayer

The only reason AppleTV will never support BBC iPlayer is because there is no money in it for them.

 

[Ingster]

But will Apple TV recieve an update to run youview in the future, such as entering a youview app, but looking at the system specs for developers you need a hard disk of 300gb minimum and a scart, darn!

 

[The Phazer]

But will Apple TV recieve an update to run youview in the future, such as entering a youview app, but looking at the system specs for developers you need a hard disk of 300gb minimum and a scart, darn!

And to be running Linux as an OS, so no. Never.

Phazer

 

[OllyW]

Looks very interesting and it's good to see Humax on board.

We don't get Freeview HD where I live until next year so hopefully YourView will be ready at the same time.

 

[tpg]

One reason to use a 'real' computer rather than an AppleTV (like a mac mini). You simply have much more flexibility. Am I right in thinking you can stream videos from your computer to the AppleTV though?

I'm sure there's a way to get iPlayer that way...

 

[OllyW]

One reason to use a 'real' computer rather than an AppleTV (like a mac mini). You simply have much more flexibility. Am I right in thinking you can stream videos from your computer to the AppleTV though?

I'm sure there's a way to get iPlayer that way...

I've got iPlayer running in Boxee on my hacked Apple TV.

 

[afd]

The only reason AppleTV will never support BBC iPlayer is because there is no money in it for them.

if apple put Safari in it, then that's iPlayer supported.

 

[roidy]

And the likelyhood of Apple putting Safari or any other web browser on the ATV is none. Apple like to be firmly in control of what content you're able to view on the ATV once they add a browser, thus opening the door to people viewing other web based content, they lose that control and all the profits that go along with it.

 

[OllyW]

And the likelyhood of Apple putting Safari or any other web browser on the ATV is none. Apple like to be firmly in control of what content you're able to view on the ATV once they add a browser, thus opening the door to people viewing other web based content, they lose that control and all the profits that go along with it.

How do you explain the Netflix app on the US Apple TV?

Apple won't have any control of what is viewed from Netflix.

 

[DJinTX]

How do you explain the Netflix app on the US Apple TV?

Apple won't have any control of what is viewed from Netflix.

I am from the US, so this conversation doesn't affect me directly...
However, I think that Netflix on the US ATV is very telling and signals of good third party support to come. Apple gets no money for doing this, unless they cut a deal with netflix for a small portion of the revenue. I guess this is possible, but seems doubtful as netflix is already on a ton of devices. They don't really need Apple. So, other services could come to ATV at some point.

The main reason I wanted to comment though is because of this YouView device. If the promo video is to be believed, this sounds amazing! If I interpreted correctly it looks like it has current programming, reruns, and Live Sports. Probably the ability for premium channels. So you can pretty much watch anything anytime you want. This sounds amazing. Are all networks on board and is it super expensive?

This has to be a really new development because when Steve was asked about Apple transforming the Television industry, he made it sound currently impossible to have a go to market strategy given that every country and cable operator would have varying technologies and would be a barrier to making it work. They would all have to be on board somehow. Or maybe this is a US limitation? Maybe in the UK you all have much fewer cable companies and they are much more likely to work together. So what's the deal? and when does YouView come to the US? This is exactly what I would expect Apple to deliver. Maybe Apple is about to purchase youview. Now that would be awesome!

 

[tiptopp]

And the likelyhood of Apple putting Safari or any other web browser on the ATV is none. Apple like to be firmly in control of what content you're able to view on the ATV once they add a browser, thus opening the door to people viewing other web based content, they lose that control and all the profits that go along with it.

But over on another thread (and front page) is this post which seems to say that lots of apps can stream to some extent via Airplay. So there's hope...

TT

 

[McScooby]

When I plug my iphone into tv via composite cable it can stream anything on the iplayer, so i'm hoping that this airplay will make it possible by the apple tv, at this moment i can't see why not!

 

[roidy]

But over on another thread (and front page) is this post which seems to say that lots of apps can stream to some extent via Airplay. So there's hope...

TT

If you read that post it says:-

You can now stream from any app that does quicktime video or audio.

The only quicktime stream BBC iPlayer has is a low res iPod stream that will look horrible on a TV. Alot of web based stream are still flash based and so probably wont work with Airplay.

Not to mention the fact that using Airplay you now not only need an AppleTV you also need something like a iPhone/iPad to actually send the stream. Who wants to sit watching TV with their iPhone/iPad turned on, kind of makes it pointless.

 

[OllyW]

The main reason I wanted to comment though is because of this YouView device. If the promo video is to be believed, this sounds amazing! If I interpreted correctly it looks like it has current programming, reruns, and Live Sports. Probably the ability for premium channels. So you can pretty much watch anything anytime you want. This sounds amazing. Are all networks on board and is it super expensive?

The 4 main terrestrial TV networks (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five) and a group of internet providers and technology companies are the driving force behind YouView. The standard programming and re-runs are all free and you don't have to pay any fees for the PVR services. I'm expecting the set-top box to cost around £300 at launch and it may also be subsidised by the ISPs.

This has to be a really new development because when Steve was asked about Apple transforming the Television industry, he made it sound currently impossible to have a go to market strategy given that every country and cable operator would have varying technologies and would be a barrier to making it work. They would all have to be on board somehow. Or maybe this is a US limitation? Maybe in the UK you all have much fewer cable companies and they are much more likely to work together. So what's the deal? and when does YouView come to the US? This is exactly what I would expect Apple to deliver. Maybe Apple is about to purchase youview. Now that would be awesome!

The two big players in the UK Pay TV market, Sky (satellite) and Virgin (cable) are not partners in this venture and don't seem very happy about it. Virgin lodged a complaint with the media regulator Ofcom in August saying it was anti-competitive and Sky have called it "nothing short of BBC mission creep".

It won't be coming to the US, it's only a UK project. As for Apple buying it, no thanks!

 

[Queso]

The two big players in the UK Pay TV market, Sky (satellite) and Virgin (cable) are not partners in this venture and don't seem very happy about it. Virgin lodged a complaint with the media regulator Ofcom in August saying it was anti-competitive and Sky have called it "nothing short of BBC mission creep".

Sky for one can **** off. They're just bitter that after years of having a monopoly over digital broadcasting in this country where they could charge content producers whatever they want suddenly they have competition coming from all sides. James Murdoch will also use every possible avenue to criticise the BBC, so the comments of either him or the company his father lets him run on this subject can be totally discarded.

I mean, why the hell shouldn't the major terrestrial broadcasters try and co-operate with the major Internet providers on a new delivery platform? Should everyone else stop being allowed to innovate unless Sky and/or Virgin make money from it?

 

[OllyW]

Sky for one can **** off. They're just bitter that after years of having a monopoly over digital broadcasting in this country where they could charge content producers whatever they want suddenly they have competition coming from all sides. James Murdoch will also use every possible avenue to criticise the BBC, so the comments of either him or the company his father lets him run on this subject can be totally discarded.

I mean, why the hell shouldn't the major terrestrial broadcasters try and co-operate with the major Internet providers on a new delivery platform? Should everyone else stop being allowed to innovate unless Sky and/or Virgin make money from it?

I totally agree and I'm not expecting the regulator to take any action to stop YouView.

 

[DJinTX]

The 4 main terrestrial TV networks (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five) and a group of internet providers and technology companies are the driving force behind YouView. The standard programming and re-runs are all free and you don't have to pay any fees for the PVR services. I'm expecting the set-top box to cost around £300 at launch and it may also be subsidised by the ISPs.



The two big players in the UK Pay TV market, Sky (satellite) and Virgin (cable) are not partners in this venture and don't seem very happy about it. Virgin lodged a complaint with the media regulator Ofcom in August saying it was anti-competitive and Sky have called it "nothing short of BBC mission creep".

It won't be coming to the US, it's only a UK project. As for Apple buying it, no thanks!

Being an Apple fan, I usually find that the US has the technology advantage as it pertains to my needs. However, the US can't touch this. I hope that YouView is upheld by the courts and is super successful. If so, then hopefully the rest of the civilized world will follow.

You may not like Apple and therefore not want them to buy YouView, and I'm sure it will never happen, but it sure would be great for me It's also a little strange because YouView sounds exactly like what I expect Apple to finally deliver someday in the US. For now I think our structure of cable companies and TV/Movie networks and competing technologies are too fractured for this to work.

 

[roidy]

I agree YouView could be the service the UK has been waiting for if:-

a. They can deliver on the content aspect.
b. More importantly they can deliver a box that is usable, the main reason I cancelled my Virgin cable subscription is because the box was next to useless to operate, I could literally press a button on the remote and go and make a cup of tea before anything happened. I have also yet to find a freeview box with a good interface that works reliablely.

 

[OllyW]

You may not like Apple and therefore not want them to buy YouView, and I'm sure it will never happen, but it sure would be great for me It's also a little strange because YouView sounds exactly like what I expect Apple to finally deliver someday in the US. For now I think our structure of cable companies and TV/Movie networks and competing technologies are too fractured for this to work.

I like Apple products and certainly own enough of them, including the Apple TV. But this is an open project and Apple prefer the walled garden approach. They also like taking your money and the beauty of YouView is that you don't have to pay for anything unless you want anything from the premium content.

Apple want you to pay $0.99 to rent a TV show, with YouView it will be available free of charge for at least a week.

 

[roidy]

This has to be a really new development because when Steve was asked about Apple transforming the Television industry, he made it sound currently impossible to have a go to market strategy given that every country and cable operator would have varying technologies and would be a barrier to making it work. They would all have to be on board somehow. Or maybe this is a US limitation? Maybe in the UK you all have much fewer cable companies and they are much more likely to work together. So what's the deal? and when does YouView come to the US? This is exactly what I would expect Apple to deliver. Maybe Apple is about to purchase youview. Now that would be awesome!

Bloody hell I hope not, Steve would strip out all the good parts, and then sell it back to you telling you thats it's now better than ever.... Oh no wait silly me thats what he did with the AppleTV

 

[Seydlitz]

I am from the US, so this conversation doesn't affect me directly...
However, I think that Netflix on the US ATV is very telling and signals of good third party support to come. Apple gets no money for doing this, unless they cut a deal with netflix for a small portion of the revenue. I guess this is possible, but seems doubtful as netflix is already on a ton of devices. They don't really need Apple. So, other services could come to ATV at some point.

I would be utterly and totally shocked if Apple didn't get a significant cut. Ity's telltale that the 99ct seems rather expensive considering this snippet:

How much does it cost?

Netflix costs $8.99 a month. You get 1 DVD out at-a-time which you can exchange as often as you want. Plus, you can instantly watch online on your PC or Mac or right on your TV via an Internet connected Netflix ready device. Instantly watch as often as you want, anytime you want.

Can I instantly watch TV episodes & movies via my Wii, PS3, or Xbox 360 right on my TV?

Yes, you can watch via any or all of these devices, and you are on an Unlimited plan. All of them connect to the Internet and stream from Netflix. You can watch as often as you want, anytime you want. Sign up for Netflix today and follow the instructions after sign up to get started.

I must be missing something, because it seems the Apple TV is really really expensive... Also, it seems they have to compete with XBOX 360's and PS3, which are more versatile systems (yes, esp Xbox is louder).

 

[OllyW]

b. More importantly they can deliver a box that is usable, the main reason I cancelled my Virgin cable subscription is because the box was next to useless to operate, I could literally press a button on the remote and go and make a cup of tea before anything happened. I have also yet to find a freeview box with a good interface that works reliablely.

I've got a Humax PVR-9300 which is simple to use and reliable. That's why I'm so pleased Humax is one of the partners in this project.

 

[roidy]

I've got a Humax PVR-9300 which is simple to use and reliable. That's why I'm so pleased Humax is one of the partners in this project.

I've never tried a Humax box, I finally settled on using my PS3 with a PlayTV tuner, the interface is fantastic and as an added bonus it's easy to transfer recorded content to a PC for re-encoding to an AppleTV friendly format. The only thing it lacks is a series link function.

 

[Queso]

Being an Apple fan, I usually find that the US has the technology advantage as it pertains to my needs. However, the US can't touch this. I hope that YouView is upheld by the courts and is super successful. If so, then hopefully the rest of the civilized world will follow.

The only advantage of this over what we have already is that it's going to be multiple provider. Both TalkTalk and BT currently have well developed IPTV services offering 80 odd channels and a large library of VoD content, including catchup TV, the latest film releases and a whole bunch of free VoD content based on TV series boxsets. The TalkTalk one was inherited with their purchase of Tiscali and has been around for nearly a decade. Sadly it's been lagging lately in terms of the development work they're putting into it, but that's basically because they're planning to migrate their userbase to a YouView based platform next year.