Isn't it a little unfair that Xbox owners are denied BBC iPlayer on their consoles while Wii and PS3 owners have been enjoying it for months?
We think so, so we're kicking off a campaign to bring iPlayer to Xbox Live Silver.
Last year the Telegraph reported that BBC iPlayer on Xbox had been postponed indefinitely, with "sources close to the BBC's Future Media and Technology department" citing the reason as an incompatibility between Microsoft's desire to limit iPlayer access to users of the paid-for Xbox Live Gold Service and the BBC's public service remit.
Sounds easy enough to rectify – simply offer iPlayer to users of Xbox Live Silver, which is free to all Xbox users.
What do the BBC and Microsoft say?
TechRadar has also spoken to a source close to the iPlayer team, who cites a different, but equally bridgeable gap: that while both parties were enthusiastic to put iPlayer on the Xbox the timing was the issue. "Microsoft's road map was long, BBC wanted to move quickly," our source told us. "So they parted company."
The same source suggested that Microsoft's reasoning for not pushing ahead with the service is that Redmond didn't want to be seen to be following Sony and Nintendo (BBC iPlayer has been available for the Wii and PS3 for some time). "Hence, the Sky deal and things like Netflix (in the US - they were on Xbox first)." Again, if true, this doesn't need to be a deal breaker.
We contacted the BBC and Microsoft for comment and both companies were non-specific. A spokesperson for iPlayer told TechRadar: "BBC iPlayer is proving really popular on PS3 and Wii. We remain keen to bring the service to all games consoles and other connected devices favoured by our audiences; Xbox clearly falls into this category."
A Microsoft spokesperson was less forthcoming, simply stating: "We have not announced any news around BBC iPlayer."
Help the campaign!
Faced with these responses, we can see nothing stopping the BBC and Microsoft working together to bring iPlayer to Xbox Live Silver. Without it, consumers are missing out on an amazing service on a hugely popular console. And so today we're launching our campaign:
If you're an Xbox owner, and you want to see iPlayer, for free, on your console, then we need your help. Here's how you can join in:
- Visit our Facebook fan page, hit Like, add it to your page's favourites, and add your comments
- Tweet your support with the hashtag #getiplayeronxbox (let's get the hashtag trending!)
- Add the campaign Twibbon to your Twitter avatar
- Share the URL iplayeronxboxcampaign.com to link to this page
- Post your comments in the comments box below
- Tell your Xbox-owning friends about the campaign
- Grab the campaign logo above and display it on your blog, as your forum sig – wherever anyone will see it
Xbox owners deserve iPlayer – let's make it happen!
Your comments (16) Click to add a new comment
naz
May 26th 2010
16. SkyPlayer is horrible on the xbox, I'd be happy to give that junk up for iPlayer! Long live iPlayer! I've already voiced my support on facebook too, I'll be happy to lead the development into deployment, for free. Lets make this happen.
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chasloyal
May 14th 2010
15. Totally agree with mypalchris, why can't everyone campaign to bring sky player to playstation network, good shout fella!
SKY PLAYER ON PSN NOW!
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lee636
May 14th 2010
14. Wow, 13 (now 14) whole replies to this 'aritcle', some of which thought it was a Sky related item!
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bradavon
May 12th 2010
13. I'd rather all 2010+ TVs came with BBC iPlayer built in as standard. It's really about time!
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lovlid
May 12th 2010
12. "It's all about the monies, and what Sky can wring out of each user."
er...what?..what are we talking about here?
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th3ripper
May 12th 2010
11. Why put the campaign via Facebook? Some of us don't have nor want a Facebook account.
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jayjaybee
May 10th 2010
10. It's all about the monies, and what Sky can wring out of each user. They do not care one bit about fulfilling a public service. I think their online service is very swish, and you can tell it is a sbscription service over the limited PSN and Wii efforts. It is not, however, worth the money!
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mattdoc30
May 10th 2010
9. While I'd like to see iPlayer on 360 for 'free', I think it'll probably be resolved when 'Project Canvas' gets going. The system is designed to be multi-platform and as it's a commercial venture it'll enable M$ to add BBC, 4oD and ITV content to the box for Gold subscribers without effecting the BBC's morals.
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paul
May 10th 2010
8. @parasitius, if a service is on Silver then it's automatically available on Gold - no need to set up two accounts.
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mbb
May 10th 2010
7. Why do people think they would need a separate silver account? Surely it would just be on both?
@amit290 You don't need a TV license to watch on demand TV on iPlayer – you only need one if you use it to watch live TV.
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amit290
May 10th 2010
6. This is Microsofts problem throwing all the goodies into Live Gold package. I agree with parasitius post below that having a seperate Silver account just to use iPlayer would be annoying.
What if I wasnt paying my TV license because I didnt watch TV, but was paying for Xbox Live Gold? As I'd have access to the iplayer service (if it was included in gold), Microsoft would have to pass on some money to the BBC. I would rather my Live Gold membership fee go on the Live Gold service; which I'm still unclear on what I get more than the free PSN but hey.
I pay £145 odd a year for my TV license. I get iPlayer for 'free' via Freesat, PS3, Wii, and the web. I dont want to be paying extra for iPlayer via Live Gold.
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fatboyfonz
May 10th 2010
5. This definitely needs to be sorted asap, but there are workarounds, you can download the videos to your pc and then with Media Sharing access them via the Xbox, that's what I've been doing since the iPlayer launched and it works fine, but it'd be nicer if it was available from the dash.
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mypalchris
May 10th 2010
4. What about a bring Sky Player to PS3 campaign? Or bring 4od to everything campaign?
Why stop at just the BBC? Channel 4 are public owned as well you know, and should have similar pressure put upon them to move into new media, if you go by that logic.
The licence fee is high enough. If people want to watch repeats of Eastenders on their video games consoles, I don't see why I have should have to subsidise them. They should pay for the privilege! More money into new programing and less into silly techy fanboy projects!
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parasitius
May 10th 2010
3. Good idea.
Annoying though that all Gold members would need to create a seperate Silver account just for this one thing. I'll probably just stick to watching iPlayer on my PC.
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dude3009
May 10th 2010
2. This would be a good rival to the ps3/wii. Going to join the cause.
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warrenpeace
May 10th 2010
1. This would be great! Especially if they offered the HD material, just joined the facebook page and tweeted :)
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