Though the BBC iPlayer is already available on the Wii and PS3 overseas, it seems a disagreement between the television corporation and Microsoft will keep the platform off of the Xbox 360 for the time being. According to a recent Telegraph article, sources close to the BBC's Future Media and Technology department claim that Microsoft's desire to make the iPlayer a Gold Subscriber-exclusive feature is "incompatible with the BBC's public service remit."
An unnamed BBC representative reportedly explained, "this does not fit with the BBC's model and Microsoft will not budge at the moment. It is really frustrating for those involved on the BBC side who want to make sure iPlayer is rolled out on as many popular entertainment platforms as possible." We've contacted Microsoft to hear the other half of the story.
Reader Comments (109)
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:39PM (Unverified) said
Umm...how about use the system for what it's actually built for?
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:00PM (Unverified) said
@whyleka
You are correct. The PS3 doesn't do video games. It does interactive movies.
Reply
You are correct. The PS3 doesn't do video games. It does interactive movies.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:13PM (Unverified) said
@whylekat
The PS3 actually does everything. It cooks me breakfast in the morning and it gives me a handjob at night.
Reply
The PS3 actually does everything. It cooks me breakfast in the morning and it gives me a handjob at night.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:39PM Bushman311 said
This is for what?! Arresting me for what?! I'm not allowed to stand up for myself?! I thought this was America! Huh? Isn't this America?! I'm sorry! I thought this was America!
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:41PM (Unverified) said
Most people have computers anyway...
Chances are most people have a Wii over a computer these days anyway
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Chances are most people have a Wii over a computer these days anyway
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:11PM (Unverified) said
To reiterate what Lucifer just said:
Most people have have computers AND most people have Wiis instead of computers.
So what do we get from all of this?
A) Most people are in the minority
B) Most people don't like to waggle sometimes
C) MS-DOS rules!
D) Crockett and Tubbs used to play "Ghostbusters" while peeing in the same toilet
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Most people have have computers AND most people have Wiis instead of computers.
So what do we get from all of this?
A) Most people are in the minority
B) Most people don't like to waggle sometimes
C) MS-DOS rules!
D) Crockett and Tubbs used to play "Ghostbusters" while peeing in the same toilet
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 7:35PM Helghast102 said
I heard "more minorites than.." and HAD TO post this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVURn_wYczY
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVURn_wYczY
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 9:00PM Haggard said
Well, this is a good point even if unintentionally. iPlayer is completely free on a computer, mobile or basically any device that can connect to the internet. Seems a bit rich of Microsoft to demand people pay for it on their platform (which would be the only place where that is the case).
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:42PM (Unverified) said
It's bad enough having Facebook and blumming Twitter on it...
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:45PM (Unverified) said
Oooh go BBC, what are the chances that the head of BBC is a silver member and is really peeved with the lack of features.
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:46PM Debley said
The BBC always try there best at everything, but to only get shot down by a money grabbing business strategy is a pity.
Microsoft need to sort them selves out and realise charging for everything is not the future. If they do not realise this soon they are doomed.
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Microsoft need to sort them selves out and realise charging for everything is not the future. If they do not realise this soon they are doomed.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:50PM (Unverified) said
I agree with this dude, I do however think he will get downvoted by 360 fans.
I haven't re-subscribed my gold account in like 6 months, free PSN even swayed my decision to get a PS3 first and most of my multi-plats for it.
Reply
I haven't re-subscribed my gold account in like 6 months, free PSN even swayed my decision to get a PS3 first and most of my multi-plats for it.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:05PM GennosukeSama said
i have to agree with him as well. Microsoft's greed for money will drive them right out of the gaming industry if they don't stop being so money hungry.
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:51PM GennosukeSama said
@ brian
first off, I'm not pretending. though i don't mean too offend you or anyone else, i really could care less what if I'm up voted or down voted. if i have something on my mind then i'll speak it. simple as that. secondly, "yea right, just like Activisions greed for money will drive them out of the gaming industry." oh believe me it will. maybe not today. maybe not tomorrow. maybe not next year or next gen. but it will eventually drive them out of the gaming industry. to make thing's clear what I'm saying is that charging for nearly everything will drive them out. of course, they have to get paid for their products and if it means having good online then I'll gladly paid for my Live subscription. all I'm saying don't charge for everything. reward your consumers every once in a while.
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first off, I'm not pretending. though i don't mean too offend you or anyone else, i really could care less what if I'm up voted or down voted. if i have something on my mind then i'll speak it. simple as that. secondly, "yea right, just like Activisions greed for money will drive them out of the gaming industry." oh believe me it will. maybe not today. maybe not tomorrow. maybe not next year or next gen. but it will eventually drive them out of the gaming industry. to make thing's clear what I'm saying is that charging for nearly everything will drive them out. of course, they have to get paid for their products and if it means having good online then I'll gladly paid for my Live subscription. all I'm saying don't charge for everything. reward your consumers every once in a while.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 5:41PM Jack Tretton said
"if i have something on my mind then i'll speak it. simple as that."
You go, girl! You're really making a difference telling us like it is!
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You go, girl! You're really making a difference telling us like it is!
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 8:26PM jocaju said
The problem with MS it's not just service, but with accessories as well. If you want to upgrade your hard drive, it's expensive. If you want wireless, guess what... the adapter it's expensive too. It's ridiculous that they charge for netflix, facebook & twitter.
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Posted: Nov 30th 2009 8:24AM JPeak said
"maybe not today. maybe not tomorrow."
But soon, and for the rest of your life. We'll always have the PC. We didn't have it before...we'd...we'd lost it until you came to the Wii and PS3. We nearly got it back last night. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. MS, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of two enormous companies don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Here's looking at you, kid.
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But soon, and for the rest of your life. We'll always have the PC. We didn't have it before...we'd...we'd lost it until you came to the Wii and PS3. We nearly got it back last night. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. MS, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of two enormous companies don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Here's looking at you, kid.
Posted: Dec 6th 2009 1:59PM GennosukeSama said
@ Jack Tretton
pfftttt!! and you think I'm trying to make a difference? no. no, not at all my friend. i'm just speaking my mind just as you and many others here on Joystiq have done before in the past and just as many others continue to do so in this present day. but then again i guess you feel as if "You're really making a difference telling us like it is!" right partner? right. =)
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pfftttt!! and you think I'm trying to make a difference? no. no, not at all my friend. i'm just speaking my mind just as you and many others here on Joystiq have done before in the past and just as many others continue to do so in this present day. but then again i guess you feel as if "You're really making a difference telling us like it is!" right partner? right. =)
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:24PM HighFiveJesus said
So they can pull a classic PR move and say "What a great value, you get all THIS for 50 bucks a year!!" to justify the price more and more.
Just don't dare mention that my PC and PS3 do it all already.
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Just don't dare mention that my PC and PS3 do it all already.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:25PM Shadowbender said
Because Microsoft thinks they're so funny...makes me sick. They made a fantastic console and had to ruin it with their pure greed. Freakin' crooks.
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:52PM eat it said
actually they rushed their console out the door solidifying it as the most unreliable console in gaming history and people paying for XBL was the only thing that saved it.
now people are just upset because Sony is offering a pretty decent service and not charging a dime for it. that really makes MS look bad
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now people are just upset because Sony is offering a pretty decent service and not charging a dime for it. that really makes MS look bad
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:58PM MystileArmor said
I love my 360 and all, and I do have a gold subscription, but Microsoft really knows how to come off as a money grubbing crack addict.
Wouldn't more "free" features be a good idea, especially right before the hollidays to push sales? it doesn't seem like it's a very expensive addition to the Xbox 360 for Microsoft, so why not?
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Wouldn't more "free" features be a good idea, especially right before the hollidays to push sales? it doesn't seem like it's a very expensive addition to the Xbox 360 for Microsoft, so why not?
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:19PM HighFiveJesus said
Most xbox users don't seem to mind, they seem to defend to the death the superior service that is LIVE.. for the right price.
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:37PM Puertoricarious said
i used to defend it, because it used to be clearly superior. but, MW2 banned party chat in most online gametypes (it's pretty much the only game i used party chat for) and ps3 now has netflix. so my two biggest draws for a gold membership (party chat and netflix) are now either no longer useful to me, or available on the ps3 for free. ps3 also recently got facebook, which i don't really care for, but still, it's free on ps3 but not on xbox.
i've thought about trading in my xbox, but i'll probably just save up the money and get a ps3 slim so that i have both consoles. probably cancel my xbox gold subscription then too.
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i've thought about trading in my xbox, but i'll probably just save up the money and get a ps3 slim so that i have both consoles. probably cancel my xbox gold subscription then too.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:00PM kmcroc said
The BBC channel here in the states is boring so i don't see why anybody would want it on thier consoles ,yet why would anyone overseas would want something they get on thier tvs on thier consoles is beyond me .or can it be that great that most of europe needs a double dose of it on thier consoles . me i can live w/out it .
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:36PM kris120890 said
You won't be getting it anyway. This is for the UK. BBC stands for British Broadcasting Corporation so it stands to reason that all their best stuff is going to be in the UK.
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 4:10PM kmcroc said
really who cares what the good people across the pond are watching ,do you really think they care what we watch, i don't think so.besides they dont watch half thier show anyway.thier to busy enjoy the great game of football (euro football for those who will feel the need to state that i have made a mistake by calling it football. thier game is totally played with thier foot ,unlike the game we all watch on sundays & mondays .where we only use our foot to kick off or punt .) besides the only two shows i watch are top gear & Coupling.
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