iPlayer for Mac
December 14, 2007
The BBC has launched a new version of iPlayer which can be used on Macs for the first time. Eric Huggers, the BBC group controller of future media and technology, also revealed it is adding social media tools and better integration of features on the new look bbc.co.uk website, which will relaunch by the end of this week.
The overhaul of the iPlayer means it is now accessible for users on Macs and Linux-powered computers as well as PCs and will offer both streaming and downloading of content. From Christmas Day, the BBC’s revamped iPlayer will be promoted in a marketing campaign.
Huggers said “We’re actively pursuing relationships with more suppliers to make sure the iPlayer becomes available on more services as well as Virgin Media, so that users have direct access to content on a TV through the iPlayer. 2008 will be the year when we start to find out how [TV over the internet] gets into the living room and how users can access these services from their couch. It doesn’t make sense to make all these services available on each platform, but we need to figure out how these platforms can complement each other.”
He confirmed Project Kangaroo, a joint web TV service being developed by the BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4, is separate to the iPlayer, and that there is room for multiple offerings.