Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Weekly NDM Story...

BBC to extend time programmes are available on iPlayer. Video-on-demand service will host shows for 30 days, up from current seven, but ends 'series stacking' option...
BBC iPlayer
The BBC has announced changes to iPlayer which mean programmes will be available for viewing for 30 days, up from the current seven

BBC shows including Sherlock, Doctor Who and Top Gear will soon be available to watch for up to 30 days after first transmission on online video service iPlayer, giving viewers an extra three weeks to catch up with their favourite shows. The BBC will extend the amount of time its programmes are available on its iPlayer video-on-demand service from seven to 30 days after the proposals were approved by the BBC Trust, effectively quadrupling the amount of content on offer. iPlayer, which had a record 3 billion requests for TV and radio programmes last year, with a top 20 dominated by BBC2's Top Gear, will make the change to its catch-up window in the summer. However, a further change will mean some programmes are actually available for less time, with an end to the "series stacking" option that enable viewers to download all episodes of a series retrospectively.While the amount of TV programmes available on the iPlayer will  increase fourfold, the total amount of radio content will increase around two and a half times. 

Diane Coyle, vice chairman of the BBC Trust, said: "With an average of 10.7 million programme requests every day, BBC iPlayer is highly valued by audiences and has been a phenomenal success since it launched six years ago. "It is important that iPlayer continues to evolve and meet the expectations of users. We have conducted a thorough assessment of these proposals, including taking independent advice from Ofcom, and concluded that this is a sensible move that will benefit audiences and provide a clearer and more consistent catch-up service." 

In a statement, the BBC said: "People keep telling us they want programmes to be available on BBC iPlayer for longer – so extending availability from seven to 30 days will make iPlayer even better. "New iPlayer already has downloads, better recommendations, HD, live restart, favourites and collections, and extending the catch-up window to 30 days gives people even longer to enjoy their favourite BBC programmes. We will now set about making this happen with the aim to roll this out from the summer."

- Giving viewers an extra three weeks to catch up with their favourite shows.
- Some programmes are actually available for less time.
- Amount of radio content will increase around two and a half times. 
- "People keep telling us they want programmes to be available on BBC iPlayer for longer – so extending availability from seven to 30 days will make iPlayer even better. 

I personally think BBC iPlayer is trying to satisfy the audiences needs as they have previously requested to allow programmes to be shown on iPlayer longer. Therefore increasing the days of the programme allow the audience to watch their favourite programmes whenever they are available.

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