BBC FREE

Great full page article in today's (free) Metro newspaper entitled, "Web TV: The next generation". As far as I know, the article is not online.

The top of the page in question reads, "EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL VIEWING TELEVISION SCHEDULES WILL SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST, AS FIONA MACDONALD DISCOVERS

From the abstract:-

From Saturday, telly addicts will be able to experience a new on-demand service from the BBC: iPlayer is introducing 'Series Stacking', allowing us to catch up on every episode of selected shows. As the BBC's controller of Multiplatform, Simon Nelson, puts it: 'Now, you'll be able to join a series half way through, following a friend's recommendation, for example, and catch up on all the previous episodes - or watch them all in one go over a weekend.' But how does that fit in with BBC's remit? And with the onset of internet TV, will a new small screen be taking pride of place in our living rooms? In a brave new broadcasting world, we've produced a TV guide that might prove more handy than any schedules.

The BBC introduced their revolutionary iPlayer service about 8 months ago. Fantastic service I have to say. As matters stand, content is currently available for 7 days after broadcast.

From Saturday however, this changes big style. IMHO, this is a truly bold and significant move (in the right direction) by the BBC and other will surely follow. Over the years, I've made more connections with folks at the BBC than any other media corporation/company and news like this is most certainly "music" to McDawg's eyes/ears and that of millions of others.

Follows the opening para from Fiona MacDonald's excellent article:-

With digital taking over our viewing has gone extra-terrestrial. In the eight months since it fully launched, BBCi Player has proven a bigger hit than anticipated: according to the internet service provider PlusNet, streaming is now 168.9 per cent higher per day. 'In five years, it's likely people will watch content on their computer, whenever they want.' says PlusNet's Neil Armstrong. 'Traditional TV schedules will be thrown out of the window. '

snip..

iPlayer is expected to have 1 million daily users by Christmas, yet none of them need a TV licence if they watch material after it has been broadcast on TV.

The article also contains news of other cool developments to follow in the near future all of which are equally exciting.

Well done BBC !!!