The BBC’s support for Microsoft’s various platforms remains somewhat patchy compared with what it offers on those of its rivals. Although the BBC recently launched updated BBC iPlayer and iPlayer Radio apps for Windows Phone, for example, it has still not launched its News or Sport apps on that OS, despite these apps having been available on Android and iOS for some time.
It also launched an iPlayer app for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 back in March 2012, which has seen a few updates here and there. But almost ten months after the Xbox One went on sale, the BBC still hasn’t brought iPlayer to Microsoft’s newest console.
BBC iPlayer has been available on the Xbox 360 for some time now
But today, the Beeb announced that the long-awaited app for its TV streaming service is coming to Xbox One in the next few months. The BBC’s Marcus Parnwell said that the new app will launch on the platform “by the end of this year”. The BBC first said it was working on an iPlayer app for the Xbox One back in November, shortly before the console became available.
However, development has evidently been slow, and a BBC insider claimed in January that delays had resulted from problems with getting the app to work properly with the Kinect motion tracker. The insider also claimed that Microsoft didn't too much to help with the problem - a contrast to the extensive support that Sony was willing to offer during the development of the iPlayer app for the PS4.
Parnwell added that the BBC is also working with BT, Virgin Media and YouView to bring its redesigned iPlayer app to their respective platforms later this year. BBC iPlayer is now available on over 1200 devices, including smartphones, tablets, games consoles, smart TVs, set-top boxes, media receivers and more.
Microsoft announced yesterday that Xbox One owners in the UK, and across the rest of Europe, will soon be able to buy a Digital TV Tuner for the console.
Source: BBC via The Next Web
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