BBC Launches P-to-P Broadband Media Player Trial
The BBC announced that 5,000 viewers will participate in the second phase of its integrated Media Player (iMP) trial that will offer UK broadband users access to TV programs online for 7 days after their initial broadcast. The technology has the working title ‘MyBBCPlayer.’
During the initial iMP trial which ran for 3 months in the Summer of 2004, 40% of participants accessed the broadband service 2 to 3 times a week; 75% felt the BBC needed to provide this kind of service; and 60% said they wanted to use the service to watch TV when it suited them.
The iMP service uses peer-to-peer distribution technology from Kontiki, with DRM software that deletes programs after 7 days and prevents users from emailing video files to other users or burning them to discs. A planned broadband programming service from BSkyB is also expected to utilize Kontiki’s technology.
The BBC will initially restrict access to the service to UK users using geo-IP software, though is expected to eventually open the system for access worldwide on a pay-per-view basis.
