BBC adds Mac and Linux support for iPlayer

December 14, 2007 – The BBC has introduced Mac and Linux support for its online catch-up TV service, called the iPlayer.

Mac and Linux users can now visit the iPlayer beta site and immediately begin streaming shows broadcast in the last seven days, although they cannot at present download shows from the same period, as Windows users already can.  Full support for Mac and Linux platforms is expected to be introduced at some point in 2008, and the official launch of the iPlayer, including a marketing campaign, is expected for Christmas day of this year.

Speaking at the Future Media conference in London, Eric Huggers, BBC Group Controller of Future Media and Technology, said that the BBC has been hard at work to make the next generation of the iPlayer into the best possible product for a catch-up TV service.  “We’re actively pursuing relationships with more suppliers to make sure the iPlayer becomes available on more services as well as Virgin Media, so that users have direct access to content on a TV through the iPlayer.  2008 will be the year when we start to find out how [TV over the Internet] gets into the living room and how users can access these services from their couch.”

The BBC recently signed a deal with Adobe to use Flash streaming technology in the iPlayer, facilitating support for Mac platforms.