| VOD Services in the UK |
Video on demand (VOD) or audio video on demand (AVOD) systems allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand.
VOD systems either stream content through a set-top box, allowing viewing in real time, or download it to a device such as a computer, digital video recorder, personal video recorder or portable media player for viewing at any time. |
Download and streaming video on demand systems provide the user with many functions including pause, fast forward, fast rewind, slow forward, slow rewind, jump to previous/future frame etc. These functions are called trick modes. For disk-based streaming systems which store and stream programmes from hard disk drive, trick modes require additional processing and storage on the part of the server, because separate files for fast forward and rewind must be stored.
Memory-based VOD streaming systems have the advantage of being able to perform trick modes directly from RAM, which requires no additional storage or CPU cycles on the part of the processor. |
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| BBC iPlayer |
| BBC iPlayer is a service available via website, P2P, Wii, Virgin Media, iPhone, iPod Touch, Sony Ericsson C905 and Nokia N96 developed by the BBC to extend its existing RealPlayer-based "Radio Player" and other streamed video clip content. The technology and infrastructure for iPlayer is provided by Kontiki, Siemens IT Solutions and Services, and Red Bee Media. |
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| Following a deal between the BBC and cable television provider Virgin Media, the iPlayer service was made available through the provider's on demand service. The cable service launched on 30 April 2008, and keeps the look and feel of the BBC iPlayer programme. The iPlayer is also expected to be available through the Freesat platform in the future. |
| VOD on BBC iPlayer |
One of the key features of the iPlayer download service is the use of peer-to-peer technology to enable the distribution of large video files to scale effectively.
Once downloaded, the content is only playable within the iPlayer itself or Windows Media Player, and digital rights management (DRM) software will prevent it being directly copied to another medium (e.g. another computer or mobile device).
Additionally, the DRM allows the BBC to decide how long the programmes remain watchable. Programmes will be available for download for seven days following broadcast. Once a programme is downloaded a user will have thirty days to start watching it. Once a user starts to watch a programme, it will continue to be available for the next seven days. These limitations do not apply to viewers using the online streaming service.
To download programmes to your computer, you will have to install the BBC iPlayer Download Manager. |
| To install the BBC iPlayer Desktop, click HERE. |
| Note: UK only IP restrictions apply to the vast majority of the content on BBC iPlayer. |
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| ITV Player |
ITV Player is the name of ITV plc's online video on demand service. ITV's ITV Player online TV service lets viewers watch most TV shows from ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 online at the same time as they air on TV, or catch up on TV shows online they've missed from the previous 30 days.
Online TV shows cannot be downloaded and stored on a computer, but they can be 'detached' from the web page and viewed using Windows Media Player.
Like rival broadcasters, some ITV Player online TV content such as films, music and sporting events are not available to watch online due to rights issues.
Overall the ITV Player service is a good service, the website is simple and clean to navigate and the programmes on offer are top quality.
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| With only 30 Days viewing available the amount of programmes to watch is inevitably limited, however this service is ideal if you want to catch up on episodes of Coronation Street or Emmerdale that you've missed. |
| Note: UK only IP restrictions apply to all VOD services. |
| See the ITV Player site. |
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| 4oD |
| Launched in November 2006, 4oD stands for "4 on Demand", a service which allows some internet, Virgin Media, Tiscali TV and BT Vision users to view programming recently shown on Channel 4, E4 or More4, or from their archives. 4oD also includes a selection of films and content from the National Geographic Channel and FX (UK). The cable version is operated through an appropriate set top box whilst the internet variant requires the installation of a free piece of software, which allows users to download the programmes to a computer for viewing. |
The services are limited to UK and Republic of Ireland viewers only, and the internet version is at present further limited to Windows XP (32-bit editions only) and Windows Vista, PC users only. This is due to the proprietary Microsoft DRM system chosen for the service, being only available to that platform at this time. Channel 4 state that this choice of system is at the stipulation of many of the programme copyright holders, thus such a limitation is unavoidable if their programmes are to be made available in this way. At this time there is no widespread, secure multi platform DRM technology available which is accepted by the major content producers, including the Hollywood studios, although the BBC's rival offering, BBC iPlayer, has a Flash-based streaming option available on several operating systems including Linux and Mac OS.
As of January 2009, Channel 4 is the only terrestrial TV channel in the UK that only provides content to Windows users.
The "Catch-up" service offers content free of charge for both streaming and downloaded versions of a programme for thirty days after its broadcast on Channel 4. Some content is available free of charge, whilst most other programmes and films, including archive programming, is charged for on a per-download basis, typically around 99p per standard programme or £1.99 per film. |
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| Video can be viewed multiple times, for up to forty-eight hours after the first time it was played, or for a month until played. The video on the internet service is advertised as being 'DVD quality', and estimates download time to be around twice the programme length on an average broadband connection, though speeds vary dramatically dependent on ISP, connection speed and other factors, and may be less or more than this. |
| A Download to Own (DTO) or "Buy" feature is also available on selected content, allowing users to purchase a programme and keep it for as long as they wish. The 4oD internet service uses some of the same technologies (Kontiki Delivery Manager and Windows Media DRM) as the BBC iPlayer Download Manager and Sky Player. However, the BBC iPlayer's streaming service is provided using Adobe Flash and is accessible on Mac and Linux operating systems, while streaming on 4oD is restricted to Windows XP/Vista platforms by Windows Media DRM. |
| 4oD Catch-up |
The 4oD Catch-Up service that allows viewers to watch TV programmes on the web with Flash instead of needing a Windows-only download manager.
The service offers 30 days of catch up content from Channel 4, More4 and E4 and, like the BBC's iPlayer web catch-up service, is available on any computer with the cross-platform Flash Player from Adobe. |
| Note: UK only IP restrictions apply to all VOD services on 4OD. |
| See the 4OD site. |
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| Demand Five |
Demand Five is the online download service from Five television. The Demand Five service, previously known as 'five download', went live on the 26 June 2008.
You may want to catch up on the programmes you missed last night, last week or download an entire series that you missed.
Demand Five includes a mixture of programmes that you will need to pay for (this is due to specific deals with production studios) and free programmes. Just head to the watch now section to see what's available to view.
You could connect your computer to your television to watch Demand Five, programmes are offered at broadcast standard through Demand Five, so it will be almost like watching live TV.
To download and watch VOD through the Demand Five site, you will have to register and download the Demand Five Player. The installation process will check your system for compatibility and that you are connected through a UK Internet Service Provider (ISP). |
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| Note: UK only IP restrictions apply to all VOD services on Demand Five. |
| See the Demand Five site. |
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| blinkbox |
| blinkbox is a video-on-demand (VoD) service launched in April 2008. The service allows users to preview, buy and rent full length premium movies and TV shows online. Additionally a significant number of titles are free to watch, with revenue generated by advertisements during playback, similar to commercial television. There is a focus on community participation, with visitors able to leave comments and customise clips by adding personal text messages to any section of a film or TV programme from their catalogue. |
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| The company’s business model is to pitch buying or renting the movie or TV show, or watching full length content with embedded adverts, after viewing the clip. Downloaded content is protected using Microsoft's Windows Media DRM digital rights management software. Blinkbox have also announced streaming deals with a number of their content partners, including Warner Brothers and E1 Entertainment. The streaming service enables users to watch a selection of their premium content instantly using Adobe Flash secure video delivery technology. |
| blinkbox's partners include All3Media, Aardman, Discovery, FremantleMedia, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Sony, Fox and Universal, and agreements with speciality producers such as Black Diamond, Eagle Vision, Fortune Star, Raindance TV Studio, X-Treme and Zodiak Television. |
| Note: UK only IP restrictions apply to all VOD services on blinkbox. |
| Website: www.blinkbox.com |
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| SeeSaw |
SeeSaw uses technology from Project Kangaroo, the now defunct project owned by BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and ITV plc. Project Kangaroo was blocked by the European Competition Commission in February 2009. In September 2009 all of Project Kangaroo's technology and assetts were bought by Arqiva.
The SeeSaw brand was announced on the 3 November 2009.
SeeSaw hopes to have around 3,500 hours of TV content available, including a mix of free advertising-supported content and paid-for programming.
On 2 December 2009, SeeSaw announced a content deal with BBC Worldwide, so shows such as Cranford, Lark Rise to Candleford, That Mitchell and Webb Look and classic Doctor Who will be available for viewers at launch. On 29 January 2010, SeeSaw announced several deals. SeeSaw will host Channel 4's 4oD service, including shows such as Peep Show, The Inbetweeners, Skins and Grand Designs.
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SeeSaw also signed a multi-year deal with Five to make Demand Five content available, including The Gadget Show, Neighbours and Home and Away. SeeSaw reached a separate agreement with UK independent distributor Digital Rights Group, which will result in ITV1 dramas, such as Doc Martin and Kingdom being made available. SeeSaw has also agreed separate deals with independent production firm Shed Media, through its distribution arm Outright Distribution and Talkback Thames for a variety of programming including Footballers' Wives, Bad Girls and The Apprentice. In addition, the firm has agreed the "first of many" US content deals with RHI Entertainment for 50 made-for-TV movies. All announced content will be available for free on the site, but supported by pre and mid-roll advertising. A dedicated sports section will be also created on SeeSaw to host a range of content and programming, for which a deal with Perform was confirmed.
SeeSaw went into a month-long closed beta on 26 January 2010. The firm hopes to grow the beta pool to around 10,000 users in order to get a broad stroke of feedback. |
| Note: UK only IP restrictions apply to all VOD services on SeeSaw. |
| Website: www.seesaw.com |
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