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 8:45PM DrunkSte said
There is no choice, the law states that by being able to watch or record ANY television programs as they’re broadcast you have to have a TV licence. Even though the licence fee is only used to fund the BBC.
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/technology-top8/
I don’t like what Microsoft is doing, when you can do all this stuff for free on just any internet enables device it should be free on Xbox Live.
But as much as I don’t like what Microsoft is doing, there’s still no law that says I have to pay for Xbox Live just because I own an Xbox or because I can play games online from other providers.
Reply
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/technology-top8/
I don’t like what Microsoft is doing, when you can do all this stuff for free on just any internet enables device it should be free on Xbox Live.
But as much as I don’t like what Microsoft is doing, there’s still no law that says I have to pay for Xbox Live just because I own an Xbox or because I can play games online from other providers.
Posted: Dec 1st 2009 6:56PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
But you foolishly pay it anyway and not moan, yet you moan about TV licensing, something of which we have been paying for years before I was even born, despite the fact that nobody is forcing you to watch TV live, if it bothers you that much, get a mobile TV, you don't have to pay to watch that live, option 2, don't watch it live and catch up online or option 3, do what we all have been doing and pay for it, and whine at Microsoft instead for the stupid choice to make Live paid for and gain little I can't get elsewhere, at least my TV licensing is giving me what I pay for, maybe not you, but it certainly is me.
Reply
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 7:33PM coiled string said
Unfortunately Microsoft saying no to the BBC wanting a free service for all isn't going to work.
The BBC has to make it's content free to all UK views that's what the license fee is for. If microsoft won't budge the BBC is legally not allowed to so stale mate thank goodness I have all the consoles. The BBC Iplayer channel on the wii seems to be the best - although in Standard def' it is definetely the crispest.
Of course you could always use the internet browser to view Iplayer.. Oh.. Xbox doesn't have a browser?? pity.
In the UK no netflix but PS3 has it's movie service.. I think MS is too North America orientated and missing the other markets and thier share.
By the way what does a Zune look like outside the US?
I love my Xbox but also my Wii/PS3 (not necessarily in that order)
The BBC has to make it's content free to all UK views that's what the license fee is for. If microsoft won't budge the BBC is legally not allowed to so stale mate thank goodness I have all the consoles. The BBC Iplayer channel on the wii seems to be the best - although in Standard def' it is definetely the crispest.
Of course you could always use the internet browser to view Iplayer.. Oh.. Xbox doesn't have a browser?? pity.
In the UK no netflix but PS3 has it's movie service.. I think MS is too North America orientated and missing the other markets and thier share.
By the way what does a Zune look like outside the US?
I love my Xbox but also my Wii/PS3 (not necessarily in that order)
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 7:42PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Can't say I've experienced connection issues other then the occasional network going down which is the fault of our internet provider.
And yeah, I guess I'm a gutter dweller because I'd prefer to use that money for more important things.
And yeah, I guess I'm a gutter dweller because I'd prefer to use that money for more important things.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 2:22AM FOI said
Microsoft has painted itself into a corner. If online play was made available for free to silver members then the gold subscription numbers would plummet and they know it. Sure all of that extra stuff is nice but without that online play linchpin the whole model crumbles.
It's going to take a big publisher with giant brass ones to change Live. I'm talking Modern Warfare 3 either free to play online for silver members or not on your system at all giant brass ones.
The BBC making a stink is most definitely a good start but it's going to take a lot more than this to ever steer Microsoft away from the peer-to-peer ad sponsored revenue generator that is Xbox Live Gold.
It's going to take a big publisher with giant brass ones to change Live. I'm talking Modern Warfare 3 either free to play online for silver members or not on your system at all giant brass ones.
The BBC making a stink is most definitely a good start but it's going to take a lot more than this to ever steer Microsoft away from the peer-to-peer ad sponsored revenue generator that is Xbox Live Gold.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 3:56AM rowie4life said
Shitty move Microsoft. The thing is I don’t see why anyone would want to use the 360 for all this extra crap. I mean the 360 isn’t the most reliable console, so why would you use its short life on all this filler? I’d prefer to use it for gaming.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:42AM (Unverified) said
Why I need netflix when my media can do its own thing?
Offline Media is freaking awesome and so is VLC
Offline Media is freaking awesome and so is VLC
Posted: Dec 1st 2009 3:47PM (Unverified) said
Un your face Microsoft! I'm not a fangil I'm just annoyed that they try to make us pay for everything, it takes the fun out of gaming when you know that half of your paycheck is spent on something that's stupidly expensive.
http://systemfailnews.blogspot.com/
http://systemfailnews.blogspot.com/
Featured Stories
Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma
Posted on May 25th 2012 3:30PM



