ITV and Channel 4 on demand coming to PS3s in the UK this week

After long last, British television services ITV and Channel 4 are coming to PlayStation 3 in the UK this week. The BBC's iPlayer service launched on the console a little while back (first unofficially and then officially), but this new development brings some of Britain's most popular on-demand content, including shows Coronation Street and The Inbetweeners (both of which many US readers have probably never heard of), to Sony's console.

Channel 4 tells the Guardian that it is "not saying no" to a similar deal with Microsoft for the Xbox 360, but that the other console company isn't seeking out a deal either. And the Wii is a no-go, apparently, because the platform can't offer advertising options. Both services should, however, launch on the PS3 for free to UK users sometime this week. If you're jealous of the UK's extra video content, US viewers, just head on over to Hulu and imagine what life would be like if every video you hit play on just told you it was "not available in your region." Yeah. Let them have their fun.

Update: A previous version of this post stated that the BBC owned ITV and Channel 4, but they are actually competing public television services in Britain. Sorry for the confusion.

Reader Comments (24)

Good for PS3 users, pity that the Wii is a no go, though as long as 4OD and ITVplayer exist, then I'm happy enough with just using PC connected to a tv for the same purpose.

You mean Sony are bringing it. Not BBC.

Why would the BBC launch a rivals service on the PS3??

@ajeffery3 haha, my thought exactly.

@ajeffery3 There have been talks about a Single unified streaming service for a while now, With BBC, ITV And C4 all using one service. I can only guess that since the iPlayer is the only one out the door on the console side, the others will piggy back off it.
I just hope the 360 does get something like this soon, Wouldn't mind partying up during Eastenders and Corrie.

@ajeffery3 Hm, Guess I should have read the article, Yeah, Its not the unified thing at all, Just separate services.
Replace Corrie and Enders with Peep show instead.

@ajeffery3 The BBC don't have 'rivals' in the broadcasting space. They're funded by public money via the license fee whereas ITV & C4 are funded through advertising. Their only commercial entity is BBC Worldwide, which makes money from DVD sales & licensing of programs to third-parties.

The BBC is controlled by their royal charter and their remit is to the public, not any shareholders. As a result, they're required in a roundabout way to offer their 'rivals' services through their systems. Of course, there will be investment from ITV/C4 into the service, be it through improvements or offsetting hosting costs.

@Shadowm4nX It was originally called Project Kangaroo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_%28video_on_demand%29

This was shelved and parts of its technology became See Saw.

http://www.seesaw.com/

@ajeffery3 I read through The Guardian's article and it looks like 4OD and ITV Player are coming to PS3, not coming to iPlayer on the PS3. I'm not sure if the BBC had any involvement with the two companies come to PS3 other than pointing out that it makes sense marking wise. Maybe that's what the post title is referring to.

There have been rumours of ITV and Channel 4 arriving on PS3 for some time now, glad it's finally happening. Hopefully we can get Demand Five on PS3 and then it'll be a fully fledged digital TV service.

@xiaoqinool

You sir, are a tool

They're both already on the XMB as of this morning underneath the BBC iPlayer not great picture quality but glad to have an easier option to catch up on peep show, coronation street and the like :)

@Linselj34 Thank you for the heads up!

I've been anticipating this ever since the iPlayer was on the XMB.
Pretty sure BBC aren't supporting 4OD or itv though.

Yes, the channels are there below the BBC Iplayer.
4OD is good quality, after a few seconds, ITV player is poor compression all the way, X factor was ropey to say the least.
Still as I have a second PS3 as a media hub in the living room, cool to have options.
This must have been part of the update recently that added nothing :)

Too bad that TV Burp is pretty much the only thing worth watching on ITV and has now finished

@Chris Smack

So it's just between the BBC and Channel 4. But which is better? There is only one way to find out....

FIIIIIIGHT!!!!

@Chazzr Have a downvote for being a crybaby.

This is a surprisingly inaccurate story, the original story doesn't mention any involvement from the BBC. It does mention their iplayer being on ps3 though so maybe that caused confusion.

I do hope these services make it to 360, maybe I'd actually watch the few uk shows that are worth watching.

UGH, I wish we got Channel 4 too. The Inbetweeners is hilarious. And also, there are plenty of other sites to stream TV shows online than Hulu, and everybody here knows about them

Yeah, the BBC have nothing to do with this at all.
Sony approached Channel 4 (4OD) and ITV (ITV Player) independently and got the deal.

Come on Joystiq, at least research your facts!

Btw, both players are now LIVE on the PS3.

Could really have done with these on the 360. Still, that's Microsoft's greed for you.

On the other hand, if it's anything like the 360's Sky Player, or iPlayer on the PS3, then all the programming I'll get is the joy of watching "Buffering..." every six seconds.

So now you can watch The Apprentice if you accidentally miss it playing too much.

Love Channel 4, wish they'd bring this over here.

Damn it Microsoft, considering we pay ridiculous prices we should be getting these features.

shame about the piss poor picture quality

ITV and Channel 4 on demand coming to PS3s in the UK this week

Reader Comments (24)

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:10AM mrmobius said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:10AM ajeffery3 said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:19AM Shinchi said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:20AM Shadowm4nX said

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Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:27AM Optimaximal said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:30AM Optimaximal said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:43AM AnimaOnline said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:28AM Jesta said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:28AM Linselj34 said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:45AM AnimaOnline said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:38AM lookhappy said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:49AM coiled string said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 5:50AM Chris Smack said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 7:00AM PoisonedAl said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 8:56AM Hank Hill said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 7:23AM Randomlyrossy said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 7:48AM daftpunx234 said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 9:27AM DigitalFortress said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 1:00PM Exu said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 1:17PM mrmobius said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 2:04PM MINECAR said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 2:13PM saturn118 said

Posted: Dec 14th 2010 3:03PM prodigy69 said

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