MIP-TV CANNES – The BBC’s director of future media and technology Ashley Highfield has announced a limited trial of the BBC Archive on the bbc.co.uk website and DTT.
Speaking at MIP-TV-Milia, Highfield expanded on the topic he had previously addressed at the IPTV World Forum in London last month. “New, hybrid set-top boxes, that combine broadcast TV with an IP connection; give us additional opportunities to deliver on-demand services via Freeview. Hybrid boxes are a part of the future, as important – if not more so – than standard PVRs,” said Highfield.
Highfield said the trial, beginning next month, would explore how content could be delivered to hybrid platforms that combine both broadcast and internet connectivity.
Around 1,000 hours of content drawn from a mix of genres will be made available to a closed user environment of 20,000 hours. A limited amount of content, 50 hours, of TV and radio programmes will be made available for general access.
Highfield confirmed that the BBC iPlayer, proposals for which are currently sitting with the BBC Trust, would be extended to the Apple Mac platform. Handheld devices would also be a consideration and this would be followed by further work with PVR and IP devices.