Govt steps into iPlayer row

The government has responded to a petition signed by 16,000 people, demanding that the BBC make its video-on-demand service available on all platforms.

Currently the BBC's iPlayer, which lets you watch recent BBC programming, only works on Microsoft's Windows XP operating system.

However, the BBC has always stated its intention to make the iPlayer, which is still in beta, "a universal service".

A petition on the 10 Downing Street site, started in July, stated that: "The BBC plans to launch an on-demand tv service which uses software that will only be available to Windows users. The BBC should not be allowed to show commercial bias in this way, or to exclude certain groups of the population from using its services."

The government responded by saying that it was satisfied that the BBC was going to make available on other operating systems, and that the BBC Trust - essentially the broadcaster's board of directors - would ensure that this happened.

"The BBC Trust made it a condition of approval for the BBC's on-demand services that the iPlayer is available to users of a range of operating systems, and has given a commitment that it will ensure that the BBC meets this demand as soon as possible," the government's statement said.

The BBC Trust had already moved to reassure those who were critical of the service only being available on Windows XP.

"The Trust recognises and shares the strength of feeling in favour of BBC content being available to all users, regardless of which operating system they have on their computer. It is requiring the BBC to make seven-day catch-up television available on a platform neutral basis within a reasonable timeframe," the BBC Trust said.

Ashley Highfield, director of future media and technology at the BBC initially said when the service was announced on 27 June: "We are committed to making it as easy as possible to use BBC iPlayer. Developing a version for Apple Macs and Microsoft Vista is absolutely on our critical path.

"Our vision is for BBC iPlayer to become a universal service available not just over the internet, but also on cable and other TV platforms, and eventually on mobiles and smart handheld devices," Highfield continued.

The Open Rights Group (ORG) described the government's response as "lacklustre" and pointed out that by launching on Windows first, the iPlayer afforded Microsoft a "significant competitive advantage".

"What the Trust’s provisions fail to acknowledge is the significant competitive advantage this lag time gives the purveyors of the only operating system currently supported by the iPlayer - Microsoft," a statement on the ORG blog said.

"The Open Rights Group believes that the BBC should release content that has been bankrolled by license-fee payers in standard formats that are accessible to all," it continued.

www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page13090.asp
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
www.openrightsgroup.org

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