Simon Willison’s Weblog

BBC iPlayer Beta. Preview of the new version of the iPlayer. Nice to be able to listen to Radio programmes in the same interface as TV without having to use the cramped popup window.

Posted 28th June 2008 at 9:35 pm

Tagged bbc, iplayer, radio

5 comments

Whatever I click to watch, it ends up saying "content not available at the moment". Probably because I'm in the USA. Last month, I discovered the BBC iplayer and it gave me a message that it wouldn't play anything for me 'cause I'm from the wrong country. Are they trying to irritate people?
Devon - 28th June 2008 22:42 - #
I clicked on a link and the dang thing wanted me to install RealPlayer! As if.

Should I even try to poke around more? All RealPlayer files?

Nosredna - 28th June 2008 23:32 - #
In the UK, selected programmes are in Flash; live streaming for selected streams is in Windows Media. We're working to get everything in Flash in future.

Apologies that the non-UK experience is a little less; currently there's no video at all in iPlayer, though radio is available (using Real, sorry, @nosredna)

Thanks for your comments.

James Cridland (BBC) - 29th June 2008 17:21 - #
I love the BBC iPlayer, it's one the 3 web sites I use almost daily. One big feature it seems to be missing is: my fav programmes. I usually go there to watch Doctor Who during the week only to have to hunt it down - I prefer the one click over having to search - perhaps I'm too lazy!
Remy Sharp - 1st July 2008 14:55 - #
The general interface is much worse. It is hard to tell how much time is left for each item and the diabolical system of by channel makes it even harder to browse. Adding radio is great, but they should have it so it is obvious how to filter radio out of your list.
They really had a good system before, which was intuitive and easy to learn. Somehow they have made it frustrating and hard to use, and now you require to have an in-depth knowledge of what program is on what channel.

Nathan - 7th July 2008 18:03 - #