BBC to offer video downloads for Mac; Apple TV considered

After many online petitions, including one on the government’s website, the BBC did say they would bring out a version of their iPlayer software on Linux and Mac. Their main reason for keeping it on Windows is because it uses Windows Media’s DRM technology – which isn’t that great anyway. Mac users can already go to the BBC’s iPlayer website and view videos via Flash, in a similar way to Hulu in the USA – but the quality is limited and you can only stream it. BBC’s Mark Thompson responds to some of the controversy over the current Windows-only status of the iPlayer software. Mark explains that it is due the digital rights management (DRM) issue. He says that a Mac version of the iPlayer software will be released in 2008 – no specific date was given.

On another interesting note, the possibility was raised by Ashley Highfield of adding iPlayer’s content to the Apple TV. “…we can look to getting BBC iPlayer onto [the Apple TV] too, as we should be able to use the rental functionality to allow our programmes to be downloaded, free, but retained for a time window, and then erased, as our rightsholders currently insist.” This could be one explanation for the Apple TV’s software update being delayed. Of course, this is aimed at UK users; but there is the possibility of BBC World content on US Apple TVs.

Via [MacRumors]