Microsoft has settled some earlier differences of opinion with the BBC over TV licensing agreements and will now be hosting the popular on-demand iPlayer service free to U.K Xbox 360 console owners through its gaming and entertainment network, Xbox LIVE.
Having rolled out a full entertainment assault just a few months ago for the updated Xbox Dashboard, the Beeb’s iPlayer was absent from the much-anticipated launch, with on-demand services such as Channel 4’s 4oD and 5 Demand claiming the limelight alongside movie specialists LoveFilm and BlinkBox which joined casual clip sites YouTube and VIVO – all turning up in the Dashboard multimedia-tinged update in December.
The BBC iPlayer commands the most respect of all the available on-demand TV services and its inclusion on the Xbox LIVE platform is a most welcome one, delivering a seven-day playback of the top telly, with the likes of Eastenders and Top Gear easily accessible any time, as well as “box sets” of old favourites such as Doctor Who in full series collections. The service will be available to the U.K only, when it eventually arrives. The Gadget Helpline will keep you posted on when that will be.
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