Exactly when the application will be made available to UK Windows Phone users remains to be seen. The only statement that comes close to offering a timeline from the BBC is “in the near future.” BBC says that the player for Windows Phone devices will be available as a browser-based shortcut within its own Live Tile. The iPlayer won’t be made available as a standalone app for Windows Phone users.

The BBC says that the shortcut to its iPlayer will work on Windows Phone 7.5 and 8 devices via a Live Tile. The statement came from the head of BBC Future Media Cyrus Saihan. He said that the shortcut would wrap the iPlayer mobile website together with its media player.

A spokesperson for the BBC said the offering for Windows Phone users is for paying subscribers in the UK only and no plans to make it available in the US have been made. Access to the iPlayer is currently available to Android, iOS, and BlackBerry users and to desktop users via browsers. The BBC says that over 650 devices can access the player at this time.

[via PCMag]

Catch-up TV will be included, with shows from all of the BBC channels, and there will be behind-the-scenes content from sports and other events. The BBC already offers “Red Button” services via traditional broadcast, including news, weather, and other content, but by using internet streaming rather than the broadcast signal, the amount of data on offer can increase considerably.

Initially, 1.2m Virgin Media TiVo boxes will be compatible with the new Connected Red Button services, though the BBC says that will be extended to other internet-connected TVs “over the coming months.” We’d expect to see web-enabled set-top boxes from Freeview, YouView, Freesat, and others join in the fun in time.

According to the BBC Internet blog, meanwhile, phones and tablets could eventually be integrated, with the hint of second-screen style content shown on both big-screen and mobile device. There’s also the possibility of retroactive updates for existing web-capable AV kit to get Connected Red Button service.

“Throughout 2012 the BBC has also been engaging with a number of TV manufacturers and platform operators regarding our connected TV application plans and the related technical specifications and certification requirements” Matt Coulson, executive product manager for Red Button says. “We’ll be rolling out Connected Red Button to a range of connected TV devices during 2013 and in many cases 2012 TVs will also be upgraded to Connected Red Button.”

You’ll need to have a Virgin TiVo box in the UK in order to try the Connected Red Button service out today.

Sky first announced its deal with the BBC back in January, at which point it also added access to the ITV catalog of on-demand shows. Subscribers to the satellite TV service already had the option of viewing select archived BBC shows, such as Top Gear and Doctor Who, but not the full catch-up service iPlayer users on other platforms could enjoy.

In fact, iPlayer is now available across 650 platforms and devices, the BBC says, including Xbox 360, on iOS and Android smartphones, and now on Sky’s Sky+ HD PVR. Sky users won’t need to have Sky-provided broadband, either, with that limitation lifted earlier in the year as well; however, they will need broadband internet of some description, since that’s how the iPlayer content is delivered to their STB.

The BBC has steadily been increasing its footprint in digital and mobile devices, extending beyond terrestrial channels. Most recently, it launched the BBC iPlayer Radio app, which focuses on audio content – though also offers companion video – for smartphones.

If your show of choice has already aired, however, you can access it from individual BBC station pages as a catch-up instead. Program reminders are supported, as well as social networking integration to let you know what friends are listening to.

Although audio is the priority, the app will also feature video content and other downloads, though for the moment it’s not possible to grab a track for offline playback. The BBC says that functionality is in the pipeline for a future version, however.

Also incoming is more customized content by individual DJs and radio personalities, which the BBC says should be added over the coming months. You’ll need to be in the UK – or have a UK iTunes account – to actually access the app, however.

Details are still yet to be figured out completely, but it’s said that the service will be similar to that of Spotify and Rdio, where users will be able to stream music online. The BBC has talked about the idea of creating their own streaming music service in the past, but they’ve had trouble getting the rights to do so from various labels. However, it’s said that the company will be talking with Spotify, Apple, and other music streaming service providers to see if they can avoid this problem.

While Playlister is still in the discussion stages, it’s scheduled to launch either later this year or early next year. And if everything goes smoothly, hopefully the new service will see the same success that iPlayer is currently earning. iPlayer has been a huge success for BBC, and it’s actually changed the way a lot of people watch television.

iPlayer was used more than 196 million times in a three-month period this year. The London Olympics alone accounted for as many as 51 million requests per week. Playlister could easily see the same success. However, just like with iPlayer, the upcoming music service will probably not be expanding outside the UK any time soon.

[via The Telegraph]

The programs will be able to be stored on your device for 30 days before they are no longer available. The idea is that fans can download the programs and watch them while traveling or in an area without Wi-Fi or a mobile signal. Program downloads can be performed over Wi-Fi networks. There is a catch similar to pay-per-view movies though.

Namely, once you start playing the show you downloaded you only have seven more days to finish watching it. After those seven days, the shows are no longer available. You do have 30 days before you have to start playing it and your seven-day limit countdown begins. BBC says that the new download feature is initially available for iOS devices, but it will come to Android devices soon.

Using the download feature requires only three steps. The user has to open the program they want, tap the download option, and the program is added to your download queue automatically. The next time the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network the program will automatically begin to download. There is no indication that downloads can be done over 3G or 4G mobile networks.

[via BBC]