BBC iPlayer to launch on Freesat

The BBC iPlayer will be trialled to a limited number of Freesat viewers at the end of November.

A full service on Freesat should be launched in 2010, said a BBC spokesperson. All Freesat HD boxes will be able to receive it.

Rahul Chakkara, head of TV platforms at the BBC, announced the beta trial on the BBC internet blog.

He also said that a quarter of BBC iPlayer viewing is now done through the TV via Virgin Media.

The BBC iPlayer became available on Virgin Media in June 2008.

Mr Chakkara said that 200 million programmes had been viewed on the catch-up service since then.

It is also available via the Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3 games consoles, although Wii users have experienced some problems with the service. The BBC says a new version is being developed for that platform.

Adapting the technology behind the BBC iPlayer interface for television had been "a challenge" he added.

"This is a fast changing and evolving industry," he wrote on the blog.

"Many of our assumptions will be challenged with time. We will keep coming back to the products and update them where appropriate."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Rahul Chakkara's internet blog post
iPlayer
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