Related link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/imp/
As anticipated by BBC and Slashdot, and covered in the 9/21 WJS (page A15), the BBC will begin a three month trial of their Internet television system this month. They hope to then roll it out next year in the UK. Unlike their current Online Radio Service, their online television service will be available only in the UK.
Its DRM is provided by Microsoft, its geolocation is provided by Quova, and its P2P software was developed by Kontiki. The client software, iMP (integrated Media Player), appears to be a Windows-only program.
The BBC hopes its iMP software will become the iTunes of online television. However, the service currently promises to deactivate downloaded programs after seven days, making it more restrictive than a TiVo. Still, it’s a start.
Pioneering the field, the BBC could end up licensing their internet television technology overseas.
Part of the iMP trial? How’s it going?
Windows Only?
As a Mac user, I was concerned to see that this was being trialled with WMP only. I am heartened however by this respose on the subject on a BBC discussion board:
"As for why not use any of the various media formats, codec’s, operating systems:
The short brief answer is that this is a trial. It was cheapest and easiest at this stage, as the software is Windows* only to go for Windows Media Format. This meant that users didn't need any extra software complicating things, and the codec has DRM built in.
I know there are people who say we should use an open codec, and there is a case for this, but this is a trial.
DRM had to be included due to broadcast rights restrictions and to make sure the content stayed UK only.
*Mac and Linux versions will happen"