Category: New Media
Date: 12.12.2005
Printable version
Christmas has come early for the 5,000 broadband users participating in the 91Èȱ¬'s integrated Media Player (iMP) trial, as the 91Èȱ¬ today (12 December 2005) announces a two-month extension of the service. It will mean that the triallists will now have access to iMP until 28 February 2006.
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iMP lets people legally download 91Èȱ¬ TV and radio programmes to their PC once they have been on air, and watch or listen to the programme for up to seven days after the original transmission.
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The trial has been running since the end of September, but the 91Èȱ¬ hopes that the extra time will allow the broadcaster to gain more data on user needs and how people use the service.
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Tony Ageh, 91Èȱ¬ Controller, Internet says: "We really want to understand the benefits that iMP can bring to our audiences.
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We know that there is likely to be a 'honeymoon' period of a few weeks, when our participants are likely to use iMP more often than normal. The data from the extra two months should really help us to comprehend what users want from the service and how they are using it.
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"This will be invaluable for us in making our case to the 91Èȱ¬ Board of Governors for a full roll out of iMP."
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Thanks to iMP, triallists over the holiday period need no longer worry about missing their festive favourites should unexpected guests come a-wassailing.
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As part of the weekly 500 programmes available through the service, they will be able to chose from TV traditions like the Queen's speech or Christmas at Kew, and seasonal specials of Casualty @ Holby, Doctor Who, French and Saunders and My Family & Other Animals.
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Across radio, iMP seasonal goodies will include Radio 3's A Bach at Christmas and The Goon Show: A Christmas Carol, which is being broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 7.
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Notes to Editors
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iMP is based on the 91Èȱ¬'s highly successful RadioPlayer, which lets viewers listen again to a selection of the 91Èȱ¬'s radio programmes for up to seven days after broadcast.
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The pilot will use digital rights management software to delete programmes seven days after the programme has aired on TV and users will no longer be able to watch it.
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DRM also prevents users emailing the files to other computer users or sharing it via disc.
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The iMP pilot will use peer to peer distribution technology (P2P) to distributes its audio visual content effectively and Geo-IP technology to restrict iMP to UK internet users only.
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The pilot will be used to assess the demand of particular types of programmes and determine whether iMP has an impact on the commercial market.
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This will assist the 91Èȱ¬ Governors in evaluating its public value.
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CC2/JH
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