Consoles Help iPlayer Reach 100 Million Requests
Viewing up by 74% on November 2009.Published 18/01/2010 at 11:00 by Gastos84
Microsoft Block ‘Free’ BBC iPlayer [108]
Sparkles Aren’t All Bad [69]
Sky Player To PS3? [12]
Ever since its inclusion in the PlayStation’s FW3.0 update in September 2009, the BBC’s on demand service – iPlayer – has seen a massive number of requests coming from Sony’s console.
Shortly after the launch on the PS3 the BBC said that it had become the second most popular platform after the PC with which to access the iPlayer. At that time it accounted for 10% of the TV service’s traffic.
The BBC iPlayer was also incoporated into the Wii in November and now 1 in 8 requests for the free-of-charge service are coming from either a Wii or a PS3 and this has helped in generating well over 100 million requests in total. This equates to a 74% increase in the use of iPlayer from consoles.
The iPlayer has yet to become available to Xbox 360 owners due to the charge that Microsoft put on accessing its Live service; the charge goes against the BBC’s policy of offering the iPlayer free-of-charge for all licence payers.
Do you use the iPlayer from your PS3 or have you yet to utilise it?
Thanks, GameIndustry.biz
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
Gamoc | 18/01/2010 11:03
Team TSA: Content Manager
1216 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
iPlayer is excellent. I WOULD use my PS3 to access it but my PS3’s broke. I did use the PS3 for it before that though, something like tri-weekly.
cc_star | 18/01/2010 11:04
Team TSA: Writer
7784 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Other than trying it out for about 2 mins on both my laptop and PS3 I don’t think I’ve ever used iPlayer, I just series link everything I want to watch on my Sky box
illogicology | 18/01/2010 11:11
Member
835 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
I use the iPlayer on a daily basis, usually on the PS3. It is without a doubt the single best feature of the PS3 for me and I thought the console was great before they added it.
Kevling | 18/01/2010 11:15
Member
2007 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
And all it is is a link to a web-page you could access already.
You’re right though, just having the icon there means I use it far more than I did before. What I really want, is a proper PS3 iPlayer App that lets you download stuff to watch later like you can on the Mac and PC.
illogicology | 18/01/2010 11:39
Member
835 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
Actually, we mac users still don’t have a download version. It’s incredibly annoying.
Kevling | 18/01/2010 11:56
Member
2007 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Yes we do, I have it on my Mac Mini…
Kevling | 18/01/2010 11:58
Member
2007 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/download_programmes/iplayer_desktop
Granted, it’s only Intel Macs, but it IS available.
Watchful | 18/01/2010 11:10
Team TSA: Writer
2084 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
To be fair, iPlayer’s been on the Wii since April ‘08 (just not as a dedicated channel) and on the PS3 since December ‘08 (just not with a dedicated XMB icon) so it’s had a while to build up those usage figures. I’ve used it on both but tend to use it one my V+ cable box if I’ve forgotten to record/series link something.
Kevling | 18/01/2010 11:11
Member
2007 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Ooh, that reminds me, I have to catch up on last week’s Survivors.
BrendanCalls | 18/01/2010 11:17
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc - YOHIMBÉ!!!
1399 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I use it quite a bit, much better to watch it on a proper 32″ tv than my PC monitor.
shields_t | 18/01/2010 11:40
Member
1617 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Agreed, I could probably count the amount of times I had used the iplayer previous to it’s inclusion on the xmb on one hand, since then (and since my recent broadband provider change) it has been used very frequently in my house.
dirtyhabit | 18/01/2010 11:42
Member
1427 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
+1
Yung Jones | 18/01/2010 11:24
Member
870 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
It’s a great feature, although I only use it to watch Eastenders. *Runs away in fear of backlash’
Agony is my name | 18/01/2010 14:01
Member
1608 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
Quick jump off the bridge to catch the train!!!
Louise | 18/01/2010 11:36
Member
143 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
Iplayer’s acting funny for me. It used to work fine, but now when i click some videos it redirects me to a different site. Like, if i click an eastenders video it redirects me to the bbc eastender site. Anyone else had this problem?
shields_t | 18/01/2010 11:42
Member
1617 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
That’s weird, the only problems I have ever experienced with it were down to the laughable speeds my old broadband supplier were mocking me with.
Tuffcub | 18/01/2010 12:20
Team TSA: Writer
4040 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Iplayer is the bestest thing ever. Sunday mornings are bed, coffee, papers, croissants and catching up on Iplayer. I dont watch BBC at all now apart from online.
aerobes | 18/01/2010 12:20
Member
671 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
Its a useful feature and I will begin using it again when F1 comes back as it is the only thing I watch on TV.
Phil_E | 18/01/2010 12:48
Member
668 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I use it often. Always watch stuff like QI on iPlayer instead of watching when it airs.
flatspikes | 18/01/2010 13:10
Member
585 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Every morning before work I boot up the PS3, stick iplayer on and think hmmm what shall I watch for 30 minutes… It’s a great little life enhancing bonus and work really well… even better than Xbox Sky Player that I pay for!
dirtyhabit | 18/01/2010 13:34
Member
1427 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Funny ……… Every morning before work I think ‘Fuck I’m late again’! Leave the house within about 4 minutes, average about 60mph through the country lanes of Dorset and comb my hair whilst walking across the carpark…………
Damn you gaming obsession…
dirtyhabit | 18/01/2010 13:35
Member
1427 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Oh yeah, Iplayer is great by the way, I use it a lot.
Sorry for the double post !
flatspikes | 18/01/2010 15:22
Member
585 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I used to be a last minute rush person but then I decided breakfast might be a good idea… so I take a bit more time on a morning now… Before I finished Dragon Age that used to grab my 30 minutes… It helps living only 15 minutes from work now when it used to take almost 3 hours before (Northumberland – W.Yorks!)
hairfreax | 18/01/2010 13:17
Member
846 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
now if we could only get 4od and maybe itv for the odd prog tv viewing would be blissfull again
Kevling | 18/01/2010 13:24
Member
2007 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
4oD is moving to YouTube, so that should work on PS3 too.
cc_star | 18/01/2010 13:57
Team TSA: Writer
7784 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Yup Ch4 & Ch5 are on/will be on YouTube which works fine on the PS3
I recommend using this link though http://www.youtube.com/xl
It’s designed for viewing on a TV and the interface is customised for non-mouse use
flatspikes | 18/01/2010 15:23
Member
585 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
WOW… 4od and 5… should be interesting how that works on You Tube… do we have a date?
hairfreax | 19/01/2010 09:41
Member
846 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
I shall give that a go . Thanks
parker | 18/01/2010 16:47
Member
1014 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I like using iPlayer, it’s a wonderful little service. I use it a hell of a lot more now that it’s formatted specifically for the PS3 Browser.
gazzagb | 18/01/2010 17:07
Master of speling mitakse
2757 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
iPlayer is brilliant, probably use it once a week.
Charmed_Fanatic | 18/01/2010 18:02
Member
661 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
I like iPlayer, and now its on the PS3, i use it more often