News - BBC not happy with Microsoft's plans to charge for iPlayer

[HEXUS]

Talks to bring the iPlayer to Xbox 360 have hit a stumbling block following Microsoft's plans to charge for the service.

Read more.

[stavroshamster]

I'm guessing it wont be long before Microsoft do back down... seems silly not to and allow extra features to their rivals.

Right, on a totally unrelated note....

Much as I love Hexus and understand that they need to get revenue from somewhere, is it really neccessary to have 7 of those annoying green advertising links in such a small article. There is only one sentence which doesn't have one! I found myself unable to move my mouse without some silly little video popping up.

Is there any way of disabling these within my browser?

EDIT: Just re-loaded the page and there are now only 4 of these links, so I was just unlucky the first time, but still - any way of turning them off?

[Hicks12]

Yes there is, make sure your logged into the other parts of the site(not just forum, check the right side of article), iirc that disables the popup ads for registered users .

[cheesemp]

So its free on the Wii and PS3 and you want to put limits on it with the Xbox? Smart move MS! No web browser either. One would almost think microsoft wants to be last on the feature list!

[Terbinator]

So its free on the Wii and PS3 and you want to put limits on it with the Xbox? Smart move MS! No web browser either. One would almost think microsoft wants to be last on the feature list!

I try to avoid IE as much as i can

[Barrichello]

BBC say that it would contravene its current policy, which states that its audience already pay for its services via the license fee and shouldn't be charged extra

Damn right, just lol at MS with this stance.

[Jiff Lemon]

Madness! I never used I-player before it became part of the PS3 OS. Now? Yup, I'm a regular.

[Terbinator]

Madness!

No. THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Saracen]

I must be missing something here.

MS sell Live subscriptions, yes? If they were talking about charging explicitly for iPlayer, or charging extra for it, then I'd say it's a liberty. But as I understand it, they're adding it (at no charge) to a subscription service they already sell.

Well, so do Virgin Media. If you're a subscriber, you get it as part of the subscription. If you're not, you don't. You certainly can't just expect VM to supplier iPlayer access without buying a subscription.

I haven't looked into this much, so I probably am missing the point, and someone will no doubt explain, but meantime, I'm a bit puzzled. Not that I care much as I'm not a Live user, with or without iPlayer, and nor am I bothered enough about iPlayer to have even installed it on my PC for free.

[shaithis]

I guess it should come down whether the streaming is via Microsoft network or not.

I fail to see why it would come from anywhere but the Beebs site directly, which means Microsoft should be using virtually zero resources in supplying it and they are potentially increasing the sales of their system......in which case they would be mad to not just make it free, even to silver accounts.....

[Simon.The.Sloth]

I must be missing something here.

MS sell Live subscriptions, yes? If they were talking about charging explicitly for iPlayer, or charging extra for it, then I'd say it's a liberty. But as I understand it, they're adding it (at no charge) to a subscription service they already sell.

Well, so do Virgin Media. If you're a subscriber, you get it as part of the subscription. If you're not, you don't. You certainly can't just expect VM to supplier iPlayer access without buying a subscription.

I haven't looked into this much, so I probably am missing the point, and someone will no doubt explain, but meantime, I'm a bit puzzled. Not that I care much as I'm not a Live user, with or without iPlayer, and nor am I bothered enough about iPlayer to have even installed it on my PC for free.

I think what it is, is that Micro$oft want to include the iPlayer with its "Xbox Live Gold subscription" which (i think) is different and more expensive then the regular Live subsciption and includes extra content which should be available to everyone with xbox live imho. Cant be sure though, havent used xbox live since the original xbox, and that subscription was a nightmare to cancel.

Also, I dont think you have to download the iplayer to watch BBC shows online anymore, it just uses a normal flash player plugin for your browser (like youtube - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/) - check it out, some good stuff.

[Terbinator]

I think what it is, is that Micro$oft want to include the iPlayer with its "Xbox Live Gold subscription" which (i think) is different and more expensive then the regular Live subsciption and includes extra content which should be available to everyone with xbox live imho. Cant be sure though, havent used xbox live since the original xbox, and that subscription was a nightmare to cancel.

Also, I dont think you have to download the iplayer to watch BBC shows online anymore, it just uses a normal flash player plugin for your browser (like youtube - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/) - check it out, some good stuff.

The M$ joke is not only poor, but old also. The issue is that the BBC wan't it to be free as thats 'their mission' (ignore license fee(s)). MS wan't it to be a Gold only service, BBC want for everyone = disagreement.

[Simon.The.Sloth]

I didn’t mean to be funny, and didn’t mean any offence by adding the dollar symbol in place of the S (if that’s what you were referring too). I also understand that that’s the issue, but wonder if it would still be an issue if microsoft included the iPlayer with their basic subscription. Which is the only way to get online with the 360?

edit. oh the the gold subscrition is the only one they charge for, I didnt realise you can still go "online" and chat with your friends for free.

[revol68]

Pure short sighted greed from MS here, so not surprising. They want to use the BBC Iplayer to get people to pay £40 quid a year, and yet the Wii and Playstation 3 carry it for nought.

[tocbg]

Can't believe this

Read through the article but I just don't understand why MS is throwing such a hissy-fit, it's not like they don't have enough money!

They are just being totally unreasonable, I wouldn't pay for iPlayer (Already paid the Licence once!) and I can't see why they couldn't just roll it into their Gold Subscription service.

Come on MS, show us all that you aren't out to scrape the barrel for every penny out there

Cheers,
Harv

[steve threlfall]

Can't believe this

Read through the article but I just don't understand why MS is throwing such a hissy-fit, it's not like they don't have enough money!

They are just being totally unreasonable, I wouldn't pay for iPlayer (Already paid the Licence once!) and I can't see why they couldn't just roll it into their Gold Subscription service.

Come on MS, show us all that you aren't out to scrape the barrel for every penny out there

Cheers,
Harv

That is what MS wants to do. The BBC want iplayer to be made available to all live users however (ie non subscribing Silver users too)

MS want to use the work of the BBC, which is of course already paid for by the license, to make their Gold subscription more attractive.

iplayer works well on my PS3 and PC but I wouldnt dream of using it on my xbox 360 due to the excessive fan noise.