BBC’s iPlayer Beta Test Encounters Problems

Many people have complained about the BBC’s new iPlayer, the much-hyped on-demand video player, following a series of technical failures after its beta launch last week.

The problems with the £131.2 million player (see BBC iPlayer To Launch In July), which allows viewers to watch BBC TV programmes from the previous seven days, have left many questioning the service’s value.

Meanwhile, the BBC’s online radio service that allows users to download programmes from the past seven days has been off-air for much of the past week.

Thousands of posts have been left in sections of the BBC’s iPlayer website dedicated to issues and suggestions. The BBC has staff dedicated to responding to posts on the site, but users are finding their questions are going unanswered for several days. The BBC said more than 100,000 have signed-up to use the iPlayer.

However, the purpose of beta trials is to find errors and iron them out.

The BBC’s advice reads: “BBC iPlayer Beta is only designed to work on Windows XP running Service Pack 2, with Internet Explorer 6 and Windows Media Player 10 or above.

“However, some users may find that they need to upgrade to Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Media Player 11 for the best experience. A reboot is needed if upgrading to Windows Media Player 11.”

Other ‘catch up’ services have come from Channel 4 in the shape of 4oD (see Channel 4’s 4oD To Offer Seven Day Catch-Up), and Joost, the peer to peer internet television service from the makers of Skype (see Joost Ready For Lift Off).

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk