If British tax-dodging newspaper, The Guardian, is to be believed, we’re getting two new channels added to the PlayStation 3’s catch-up TV services. The liberal paper has spoken to several key players in the deals and is reporting it as an example of the convergence of new and old media.
It is unclear if this move is the addition of separate internet apps, similar to the incredibly successful iPlayer, or if it will simply be a case of fixing the service’s native websites to work with the PlayStation 3’s extremely fussy browser.
ITV has recently rejected deals with YouTube and US service, Hulu (who are working towards a UK launch, apparently) in favour of growing their streaming user base with the aid of Sony’s home console as well as various other strategies which could see the service being opened up to iPad users and those lucky enough to have internet enabled televisions.
4OD already streams some of its programming via YouTube and they are seemingly open to any potential outlets for their content but Sarah Rose (Director of Commercial Business Development) said that Microsoft had not been as proactive in their approach to securing UK television content as Sony had.
The Guardian goes to great lengths to point out that this is all possible thanks to the face of gaming becoming more acceptable to modern society. While that attitude may seem a little patronising on the surface, it is difficult to argue with.We’ve heard many stories of people who are outside of the traditional console consumer base buying the PlayStation 3 simply for its media capabilities.
With the spread of HD, Blu-ray and 3D television being pushed ever-harder at market we can only imagine that there will be many more people taking the plunge who haven’t the slightest intention of queuing up for Uncharted 3.
rainydays458
4od yay, ITV nay, I don’t think a national broadcaster has ever been so dull.
rht992
ITV 2? *shivers* 4oD is awesome though. so many great programes up there
Jim H [Teabags]
I’m all for this. I don’t use the iPlayer often, but I use 4OD via my PC on a weekly basis. Hopefully they round it off with 5 on demand too.
DrNate86
Sweet! Couldn’t give a flying toss about ITV, but I love 4OD! I hope its a new app, guess we will find out on Weds.
hazelam
4od would be cool, i tried to watch misfits on youtube on my ps3 on my big tv, but it won’t work, hopefully this player will have all the content 4od have on youtube then i can.
Foxhound_Solid
Nice one, I always use iplayer so it will come in handy for Celebrity Juice and 8 out of 10 cats if nothing else.
Mason_Mk
I hope the 4oD is an app, i find their site hard to navigate and find content easily.
ITVPlayer will be ok for celebrity juice, and their current site is fine with me, although on my PS3 all the programs i try to play on it say that i haven’t got the rights for it. I hope thats a problem they can fix for this.
Awayze
ITV sucks. Channel 4 is ok. I want Sky though.
Grey_Ghost13
Good news for the PS3, just wish they would sort out the shoddy quality on the youtube thingy, it’s crap! It’s getting close to a point where you won’t need a TV licence anymore with all this access to post aired TV!
cc_star
Yeah… the browser needs an update and more resources allocating to it
jammie_dodger
Yay! Now I will never miss an episode of Dickinson’s Real Deal
Kevling
ITVplayer is worth it for whn TVBurp is on. Oh well, there’s always next year ;)