BBC launches beta version of new iPlayer

The BBC has today launched a beta version of its new iPlayer as part of a wider BBC Online strategy to do “fewer things better”.

But users will have to wait until the end of June or the beginning of July to take advantage of all the new features the corporation is rolling out for the revamped platform.

The latest version of the iPlayer is the third since its launch on Christmas Day 2007. The aim of the new platform, which users can customise, is to give people greater control over the programmes they want to watch.

For example people will be able to use the new Favourites tab to set up a playlist of programmes and series which can also be set to download in advance to save time.

The new platform will also ‘learn’ what a user likes, so a ‘For You’ section has been incorporated. This lists programme recommendations based on a person’s viewing and listening habits.

The BBC has also made the platform open so users will be able to search for programmes from other broadcasters. Partnerships forged with ITV, Channel 4, S4C and Five means people will be able to user the iPlayer to search for programmes from these broadcasters.

The programmes won’t be shown on the iPlayer but links will take the user to these broadcasters’ catch-up TV services. People can also save these searches in their Favourites playlist and, as with a BBC programme, know when a programme is available or a new series has started.

Erik Huggers, BBC director of future media and technology said: “When we know about it you will.”

The BBC has also ramped up the social-networking element and people can connect with Facebook, sync with Twitter and automatically post tweets.

The BBC has incorporated chat as well. However iPlayer is currently only geared up for Microsoft Live Messenger, but Mr Huggers said it expects this to widen to more instant messaging platforms in the future.

Other new features include the ability to channel hop while watching live TV, sort out programmes by genre and sub-genre and customise the electronic programme guide (EPG). Higher quality video streams are supported.

If a viewer’s broadband connection drops or speeds up, then the iPlayer will automatically adapt to the new video bit rate.