The BBC iPlayer, which is currently available on the PS3 free of charge, looks to be delayed indefinitely on the Xbox 360. According to reports this morning, this is due to Microsoft wishing to charge for the service whilst the BBC naturally wants the streaming to be ‘included’ in the license payer’s fee. “Microsoft only wants to offer its users access to platforms it can charge for as this is the model it is pursuing,” a BBC source told the Telegraph.
“It wants to ensure that only those paying for Xbox Live Gold accounts can access its additional content services and even then there is usually a charge on top to get access to those” they added. “This does not fit with the BBC’s model and Microsoft will not budge at the moment. It is really frustrating for those involved on the BBC side who want to make sure iPlayer is rolled out on as many popular entertainment platforms as possible,” the source added.
In the meantime, Sony are in contact with Sky and 4OD.