The BBC iPlayer is coming to tablets, with a dedicated app for the Apple iPad and Android devices available. Initially for U.K. residents only, a paid subscription-based version is rumored to be heading for the U.S. in a few months time.
iPlayer iPad App
Tablet owners have been able to watch BBC programming for a while now through a Web browser, but the BBC is now releasing a dedicated app which will offer improved video quality, social networking features, and more besides. Playback will require a Wi-Fi connection, but browsing will be available on 3G.
First revealed in a tweet (now deleted) by an engineer before being confirmed by the BBC, the iPlayer app for iPad and Android (2.2 or later) will be released today (Feb. 10). Live TV and radio will be available, as well as seven days worth of catchup and series stacking which sees a whole season of a particular show available until the series concludes.
A subscription-based version of the app is rumored to be heading for the U.S. in the summer, although that has yet to be confirmed.
TV Licensing Issues
In the U.K. anyone who watches television – no matter what device they watch it on – has to pay an annual TV license which finances the BBC. However, the iPad app may be a way around this for those who want to save the £145.50 ($220) asking price.
According to the Telegraph, the BBC won’t be pursuing people who watch TV via their tablet device, mostly because they have no strategy for enforcing the buying of a TV license for those watching via this means.
It’s thought only around five percent of the 97 percent of the population who own a television don’t have a license. So this isn’t all that big a problem.
Conclusions
The most interesting part of this for me is the move to give those outside the U.S. access to iPlayer content. Charging for it is a must because of the TV license – if the BBC were to give non-Brits free access there would be absolute uproar from those of us who pay for the privilege.
