While it’ll be ad-supported, users will also have to pay 50 Euros/$70 for an annual subscription, or 7 Euros/$10 per month, and will have two bonuses over the British users of the app — streaming-support over 3G connections, instead of just Wi-Fi. The Guardian has reported they’ll also be able to download episodes for viewing later, and offline. Just don’t get sucked into watching Eastenders, folks — I hear it’s addictive. [The Guardian]
z3d
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 7:54 PMI’ve been using a UK proxy purely for the beeb iplayer for the last year. It’s fantastic. The 10 bucks or so I’m currently paying is a no-brainer so I’m happy to pay for the service.
Sicarius123
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 7:58 PMWill this be available without swearing your allegiance to a half eaten fruit?
JM
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 8:30 PMSorry but you better start eating apples if you want this app.
lulz
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 10:06 PMPisses me RIGHT off that this is only as a f-ing Apple iPad bullshit app.
“We have a great relationship with Apple in terms of the promotional commitments they’ll give us too.”
FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU
Why focus on iPad? BBC Worldwide is not subject to the same requirements to support a range of devices as the BBC in the UK, so for global iPlayer, this was a purely commercial decision.
“We hope that this service becomes multi-device, multi-platform and multi-territory over time, but as a premium-but-niche service, we did not want to go in with both feet from day one,” said Bradley-Jones.
“We’re spending the next year in a pilot-type phase focusing on one device, to make a clean and very compelling experience. We have a great relationship with Apple in terms of the promotional commitments they’ll give us too.”
Apple’s iPad currently takes the lion’s share of the tablet market, which was also a key factor in BBC Worldwide’s decision. However, if Android tablets become more popular during the year-long pilot period, Bradley-Jones expects to port the global iPlayer app across then. For now, the global iPlayer will not be available as a desktop web service.
DarthDVD
Friday, July 29, 2011 at 1:54 AMOh I do hope they give some loving to us Android users. And quick access to new Top Gear shows instead of waiting until ch9 show it.
Marcus
Friday, July 29, 2011 at 3:12 AMI’d totally be in for all the extra F1 coverage that the BBC do.. but I’d sooner gouge my eyes out than submit to an Apple exclusive.