The latest incarnation of the BBC iPlayer is set to go live early this week, with the popular beta finally arriving as a full release and bringing social networking tie-ins, personalisation and a funky new design.
The BBC iPlayer has been the trailblazer for online video in demand in Britain, and the BBC's latest version, iPlayer 3, has been available to play around with in beta.
"The BBC iPlayer team are very excited about the latest developments going live... this is a big step for the product, and its users," said the BBC in a blog post.
Need for change
The BBC explains that the changes were brought in because of the growing influences of social networks like Twitter and Facebook, along with the constant desire to refine and improve the user experience.
"The impetus for change has come from two directions: firstly, we have a long-term plan to constantly evolve the site for the benefit of our audiences," added the BBC blog from James Hewins..
"A main theme here is personalisation - simply put, a way to get the programmes you love with less clicking (and thinking!).
"Secondly, we wanted to connect BBC iPlayer up with the users' online interactions with friends - to bring a social dimension to watching and listening."
Popular beta
Interestingly, the BBC also revealed that 8 per cent of the total users chose to use the beta version, and it played (marginally) more programmes per day than its predecessor/
18,000 people signed up for the social features, and a whopping 700,000 favourited or liked the top programmes, which included Sherlock, Eastenders, Top Gear and Dr Who.
So, expect to see the BBC's new iPlayer roll out this week.
Your comments (7) Click to add a new comment
windymiller
September 7th 2010
7. @ bradavon
Yes,talked,in a real life social situation,not typed, in a feeling lonely in my bedroom situation.
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lovlid
September 7th 2010
6. Facebook might have 500 million bedwetting "please notice me" users, but when you here people talking about it, it doesn't endear you to the product. Grown men, down the pub, all giggly and "did ya see the video I sent you, did ya, did ya".
Pathetic.
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bradavon
September 7th 2010
5. @ a.n.other: You've never talked to a friend about something on TV you've watched? Please!
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bradavon
September 7th 2010
4. It makes me laugh that the people who proclaim social networking is rubbish or get annoyed it's included on "yet anther product" don't actually use it.
Tell that to the 500 million users of Facebook. People share You Tube videos all the time on Facebook. It only makes sense to be able to do the same on iPlayer.
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onerichie
September 6th 2010
3. No-one can deny that social networking is a big deal, its important and it's here to stay (even if it's various incarnations come and go at a rapid pace). But that doesn't mean you can slap a social networking feature on any product under the sun and think that makes it automatically wonderful. As the guys who commented before me already said, what is the point of social networking on iPlayer? It's a total gimmick in my opinion, and there are far more pressing issues with iPlayer that could have been addressed first (Like access to a decent back catalogue of programming, not just the last 7 days)
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bwrlane
September 6th 2010
2. Yawn. Can't we please just have one new product that doesn't tout social networking as a feature?
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left4dead
September 6th 2010
1. I think it should be available to people who have a current TV licence but who are denied it just because they happen to be outside of the UK at the moment ie to the people who would appreciate it most
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