Xbox 360 iPlayer launch delayed indefinitely


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According to sources close to the BBC?s Future Media and Technology department, a deal between the two parties has still been unable to be reached because Microsoft?s strategy of charging for all content on its Xbox Live platform is incompatible with the BBC?s public service remit.

?Microsoft only wants to offer its users access to platforms it can charge for as this is the model it is pursuing. It wants to ensure that only those paying for Xbox Live Gold accounts can access its additional content services and even then there is usually a charge on top to get access to those. For example, to access the Sky Player on Xbox, you have to pay for a Gold subscription as well as a Sky subscription,? explained one of the sources close to the BBC.

?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,? they added.

The BBC cannot charge the British public for access to the iPlayer as it is already included in the licence fee

This situation is a marked contrast to the deals the BBC already has in place with the other two home games consoles. Nintendo?s Wii and Sony?s PlayStation 3 both offer free access to the BBC iPlayer. Earlier this month the BBC recently relaunched its service on the Wii and now offers its own dedicated iPlayer channel.

A BBC spokesman said: ?BBC iPlayer has been extremely successful on PS3 and we recently re-launched on Nintendo Wii, from which the public response has been fantastic. People clearly want the BBC iPlayer on their gaming consoles, and we don?t think Xbox users are any different, so we?ve had discussions with Microsoft about bringing the service to the platform.?

A Microsoft spokesman declined to comment.

The delay in striking a deal with the BBC could harm Microsoft?s ambitions to make its Xbox 360 console become the centre of the home entertainment hub. It is understood to also be in discussions with other content providers, such as Channel 4 and MySpace.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/micr...definitely.html

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Urgh! I don't see a problem if MS/BBC make it free for Gold subscribers only. As it is an extra feature, like facebook, Sky Player etc.

Is it the BBC who want it to be free for all, including silver members?

Or do microsoft want to charge BBC for it to be on the xbox?, even if its just available for Gold members?

I don't see how microsoft only allowing it for Gold members, conflicts with the fact the BBC can't charge for it. As long as it isn't the BBC directly charging for it, wheres the problem.

Edited by acnpt
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microsoft could allow all xbox360 users to have access to the iplayer even with no live sub, as the iplayer is just internet dependent and will not have to rely on live to function. saying that neither does the sky player.

the bbc iplayer should be free for all uk xbox360 users no matter what sub they have.

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Urgh! I don't see a problem if MS/BBC make it free for Gold subscribers only. As it is an extra feature, like facebook, Sky Player etc.

Is it the BBC who want it to be free for all, including silver members?

Or do microsoft want to charge BBC for it to be on the xbox?, even if its just available for Gold members?

BBC iPlayer can't be offered through a service you need to pay for, it has to be publicly viewable freely

Microsoft's strategy of charging for all content on its Xbox Live platform is incompatible with the BBC's public service remit
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I've got no problem with it being gold only (I don't know if the BBC would have a problem with that) but it is sad to see it isn't going to happen for the forseeable future. I'm not surprised though, Microsoft wants to make money but i feel as though they would get more sales of xbox if some video features were free.

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I don't see the issue here. iPlayer is available on Virgin Media's TV packages, which you have to pay for. So why not on Xbox Live (Even if you have to pay for gold).

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BBC iPlayer can't be offered through a service you need to pay for, it has to be publicly viewable freely

Shame, I think that's a step too far.

As long as the beeb can't charge for it, other content distributers should be able to. It would increase the availability of the iplayer on other systems.

Hopefully MS will back down then.

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I don't see the issue here. iPlayer is available on Virgin Media's TV packages, which you have to pay for. So why not on Xbox Live (Even if you have to pay for gold).

Actually the M package is free with the Internet/Phone so I guess thats how they by-passed that!

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Actually the M package is free with the Internet/Phone so I guess thats how they by-passed that!

But you still have to pay Virgin Media for it, so it seems a bit hypocritical of the BBC to be stalling with MS. Though it could be more complicated than just MS want it to be available to gold members only.

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That is a shame. I love being able to watch the iPlayer through my PS3 and it would be good for the BBC/general public if they were able to access the servic from as many devices as possible!

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So what would be in it for Microsoft to spend time developing it?

ms wont be the ones developing it the bbc will proberly do this with a simple flash based app thats nothing more than a webbrowser just like the pc/ps3 and wii versions are, all MS have to do is sign the code so it can run on the system.

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I don't see the issue here. iPlayer is available on Virgin Media's TV packages, which you have to pay for. So why not on Xbox Live (Even if you have to pay for gold).
On 29 May 2008 Virgin Media successfully integrated iPlayer with the Virgin Media electronic programme guide. The majority of BBC shows are now listed alongside other VOD content in Virgin's Catch Up TV section as well as through the red button whilst viewing a BBC channel. There will be no charge for watching BBC shows through the iPlayer on Virgin Media.
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The issue here is that the BBC would require ALL people with an Xbox Live account to be able to access it, for nothing. The Virgin Media argument doesn't hold water as Audioboxer says, they don't charge. By requiring a gold memebership, Microsoft would be charging.

It's a shame though, especially since I can't get the Media Centre iPlayer plugin to show up on the xbox :-(

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Urgh! I don't see a problem if MS/BBC make it free for Gold subscribers only. As it is an extra feature, like facebook, Sky Player etc.

The amount of backlash the BBC would for being on a service that you have to pay for would be epic. It doesn't matter that it's MS that are the gatekeepers on this, it's the BBC who would get all the bad PR. The anti license fee crowd would blow it out of proportion (as usual)

The BBC don't want to make it look like your paying for services you already pay for out of the license fee, nor do they want to discriminate and give the view that they are charging for content on the 360, but not on other platforms.

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Shame, although I don't use it often it's definately something the PS3 has over the 360 and MS should just add it for everybody. While they're at it they should add a browser too - would be of much more use than the Facebook and Twitter apps and although some people aren't interested and only want gaming features it'd be a handy feature to have.

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So wouldn't that mean you can only watch BBC on free TVs? If your TV cost money wouldn't that be a violation of BBC's pristine standards?

just goes to show how greedy microsoft it.

Yeah they are so greedy they let you choose if you want to purchase their product or not where as you purchase BBC even if you never use it. OMG so greedy!

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So wouldn't that mean you can only watch BBC on free TVs? If your TV cost money wouldn't that be a violation of BBC's pristine standards?

Yeah they are so greedy they let you choose if you want to purchase their product or not where as you purchase BBC even if you never use it. OMG so greedy!

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