Online TV service Zattoo has added BBC One and ITV1 to its line-up, bringing together the big five terrestrial channels on a single online platform for the first time.
BBC One and BBC Two are presently unavailable as a streamed service, although the BBC News Channel has been carried on the BBC website for some time. ITV1 is available on itv.com, but unlike Zattoo the service is restricted to PC users.
Although not an open threat to the British broadcasters joint venture Kangaroo, which is based around downloads, the legality of Zattoo is unclear. Certainly any marketing agreement with the BBC would have ensured a selection of up to date channel logos.
Viewers can download the Zattoo player from the company’s website. The service is free, although pre-roll advertisements have already been introduced in other countries, activated when the viewer changes channels.
Zattoo has already launched in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Denmark and Norway. A launch in the Netherlands is planned for later in the year.
