Shocking! Though I suspect it's more a technology issue to do with DRM rather than anything else. I guess they are developing for IE6/Win first simply because this is still unfortunately ~70% of the market.
From a PR p.o.v it would have been wise for them to delay slightly and release all of the versions at the same time - but then they were probably under pressure to get an initial version out ASAP because of all the delays to date.
Stefan
· 2 years ago
There's another issue on this also. Not only will the iplayer be limited to xp users, it will also be limited to the UK only. Viewers outside the UK will get almost nothing of the real good stuff the BBC produces.
salmonmoose
· 2 years ago
That's not really surprising. They have to monetize somehow - and as I understand it they're paid for by TV licenses. If they sell content overseas they need to get it certified. If they give it away, the rest of the world is sponging of the subscriptions of those who pay.
You just KNOW it's all going to be on BT within hours anyhow.
Curtis James
· 2 years ago
You are right Chickerino, it is a DRM issue.
And of course the bulk of the content will only be available for UK users. Makes me feel a bit better about paying my yearly license fee.
Paul Kerton
· 2 years ago
Logically the BBC is launching to the biggest market first... but due to DRM issues, it can't launch to everyone straight away, but it is working on it. This is purely a private market issue making it impossible for the BBC to currently fulfil its public service remit. So blame Apple for not having time lapsing available in FairPlay, and blame Microsoft for not taking WMV on the Apple and Linux platforms seriously, not the BBC who are stuck between a rock and a hard place. What do people expect them to do, develop ANOTHER DRM solution, they'd just get criticised for that.
Oh and the report is wrong about the BBC taking a different route to other broadcasters. BSkyB and Channel 4 are using the same underlying software for the PC based on demand services as the BBC are doing (Kontiki client).
All Comments
From a PR p.o.v it would have been wise for them to delay slightly and release all of the versions at the same time - but then they were probably under pressure to get an initial version out ASAP because of all the delays to date.
You just KNOW it's all going to be on BT within hours anyhow.
And of course the bulk of the content will only be available for UK users. Makes me feel a bit better about paying my yearly license fee.
Oh and the report is wrong about the BBC taking a different route to other broadcasters. BSkyB and Channel 4 are using the same underlying software for the PC based on demand services as the BBC are doing (Kontiki client).