featured as a Big Interview, as part of MIPCOM 2008’s Broadband Video Summit, director of future media and technology at the BBC Erik Huggers shared some facts about the BBC iPlayer. The BBC iPlayer is available on PC, Mac, Linux, Virgin Media, Apple iPhone and iPod touch and Nintendo Wii. Since its marketing launch in December 2007, there have been over 180 million requests (as of October 2008) to stream or download BBC TV programmes via BBC iPlayer. Huggers said the 20-22 minute average viewing time on iPlayer, is around double the 11-12 minutes average viewing time on linear TV. A children’s iPlayer is also in development, which could be offering kids’ content on-demand by the end of 2009. BBC iPlayer is offered free-of-charge in the UK, as all TV households there are required to pay an annual licence fee of £139.50 (US$208). The service enables viewers to catch up with the programmes from the past week free of charge and play back content via computer as often as they like during the time that programme is available. Viewers in the UK connected to the internet can play programmes on the website through Click to Play (streaming), or download TV programmes and store them on computer for up to 30 days if it supports the BBC iPlayer Download Manager. Downloaded TV programmes can also be transferred to portable media device, PDA or mobile phone. Rights agreements mean that television programmes can only be streamed or downloaded in the UK, but if people outside the UK and connected to the internet can listen live and again to most BBC radio programmes. Huggers also said that 92.3 percent of usage is streaming rather than downloading of content, and that the next big push is for an open standard set-top-box that would allow services like iPlayer into the living room. “We are looking at death by a thousand cuts if we have to build a new platform for each and every device,” said Huggers, “there has to be agreement on an open standard.” The concept is currently under development at the BBC, under the codename Project Canvas, but while there may be progress by early 2009, it was still pending approval from the BBC Trust. The next step would then be getting the backing of hardware manufacturers and other broadcasters. It is also assumed that the BBC would be looking to launch a commercial iPlayer outside of the UK, following the same path as its website – which has to be ad-free on its domestic site, but gained approval from the BBC Trust to carry advertising on its international facing sites. For those unfamiliar with the BBC, the public broadcaster has to try and ensure its commercial arm BBC Worldwide is not seen to be profiting from the annual license fee. Apart from having to tread carefully with regard to the possibility of offering an ad-supported or subscription-driven iPlayer for audiences outside the UK, the BBC iPlayer has received some criticism from its commercial TV rivals in the UK. Competitors say that the BBC offering so much content for free is affecting the viewers’ propensity to pay for, thus hampering the roll-out of, commercial subscription-driven services. In the US meanwhile, the first network there to launch an on-line free catch-up service was ABC back in 2006. Since its launch, over 450 million episodes have been initiated through the ABC.com full episode player and over one billion ads had been served. Based on research conducted earlier in 2008, users of the full episode player are highly satisfied with the viewing experience, with 88 percent rating it positively and over 90 percent reporting that they were likely to recommend watching full-length episodes on ABC.com to others. And September 2008 saw Disney-ABC Television Group unveil an updated version of the ABC.com full episode player. The new player features a completely redesigned user interface and incorporates several enhancements to allow for user customization, interactivity and improved viewing capabilities. New features include: true full screen viewing, enhanced navigation and video search capabilities that allows users to search for series graphically, alphabetically, by genre or popularity; content sharing tools providing the ability to send and share video links from full episodes with others through email or by embedding links on other websites, blogs and social networks; content recommendation functions; closed captioning available for player content; and parental ratings information for full episode content. The player currently offers users over 180 episodes from over 15 of ABC’s most popular series, many of them available in HD. Online video viewers have the ability to launch the player off of ABC.com, affiliate sites, portals and video aggregator sites as well as social network sites via the Full Episode widget. Research findings into usage showed that the broadband player attracted a young, highly educated audience; the average age of users was 29, and more than half were college graduates. Users of the broadband player were almost equally split between males (47 percent) and females (53 percent). As Rob Gilby, senior vice president and managing director of Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific), explains, this is a good sign for the attraction of a younger demographic. “The average age of viewers on the ABC network in the US is 41-42 years old, with an average age of 28-29 years old on-line, it suggests a whole new audience. The service is most definitely additive, rather than cannibalistic, and we are targeting the early-adopters – even younger than our average 29 years. For many younger audiences, the PC will be their primary point of contact with media rather than the TV set.” Further research in the US showed that the majority of online viewing for episodes occurred within the first 24 hours of their broadcast on ABC. Approximately two-thirds of those surveyed watched complete episodes, with partial viewing of episodes occurring mainly because viewers had already seen the episode on TV or were interrupted. The majority of users viewed from home, using a desktop computer. The number one reason given for viewing online was because users had ‘missed the episode on TV.’ Adds Gilby, “Whereas audiences watching TV alone tended to catch 6 or 7 episodes of a 22-episode season, the online option means people are watching 10, 11 or 12 episodes of a season. This enables them to have a much closer relationship with the characters, to pick up a season they thought they had lost touch with. We’re just trying to offer as many opportunities as possible for audiences to stay connected with their favourite shows.” It also appears to be good news for advertisers, with an average 87 percent of users surveyed in US able to recall the advertiser who sponsored the episode they viewed. Those viewers embraced the interactive advertising, with over 50 percent rating the advertising experience positively and 84 percent believing that they were getting a ‘great deal by being able to watch the episode online for free in exchange for watching the ads.’ And July 2008 saw Disney partner with Hong Kong broadcaster TVB to offer US network series online for free. TVB Pearl, Hong Kong’s leading English terrestrial channel, TVB.COM (TVB’s online portal) and Disney-ABC International Television made a selection of ad-supported US network series available on TVB’s ‘CatchUp TV’ service for viewers to enjoy on-demand, free of charge. This deal was the first of its kind for both companies in Hong Kong and Asia. Through ‘CatchUp TV’ (www.pearl.tvb.com), a number of popular US series are available for viewers to enjoy for free, at their own convenience, just 12 hours after the TV broadcast. TVB has pooled huge resources and made heavy investments in the new media business in order to provide the best programming to viewers and a dedicated portal pearl.tvb.com was recently launched towards this end. Cecilia Tan, deputy controller, programme division of TVB announced that the first show to launch on ‘CatchUp TV’ was the ABC Studios-produced new drama series Dirty Sexy Money. She also pointed out that more dramas would follow suit including the latest seasons of award-winning shows Lost, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. All episodes are available for streaming on pearl.tvb.com for four weeks after the telecast. S. K. Cheong, general manager-broadcasting of TVB emphasized that TVB Pearl is a market leader in building viewership and audience involvement in Hong Kong for the best drama series from America. “The progressive policy of Disney-ABC International Television in allowing a free ad-supported ‘CatchUp TV’ service in Hong Kong is welcomed by us and will go a long way towards strengthening Hong Kong audience’s involvement with Disney programmes,” he said. Explains Ivy Wong, chief operating officer, TVB.COM, “We launched our first catchup TV service on July 18 with our partner Disney ABC under pearl.tvb.com. Four major Disney drama series Dirty Sexy Money, Brothers and Sisters, Lost, Desperate Housewives can be caught up through pearl.tvb.com 24 hours after they are aired.” Continues Wong, “TVB.com also launched our own catchup TV services on Nov 11, audiences can go to tv.tvb.com to catch up on all major non-drama programmes focusing on food, travel, entertainment, lifestyle and daily news.” The service is free and to HK users only via internet over PC, and Wong says they have received a very favourable response from advertisers. “Advertisers love this new service as they can integrate TV and Internet together to make a more effective marketing campaign. Advertisers who normally buy Dolce Vita, our lifestyle programme, now extend their buy to online. http://pearl.tvb.com/dolcevita/2008116/index.html Examples from tvb.com also include http://travel.tvb.com/vanishingglacier/nikon/ “Existing TVB on-air advertisers can now do bundled buys for TV and internet together which can enhance their target audience. However, the catchup TV services also attract advertisers who don’t have high budget for on-air promotion, but they can still do TVC online.” As for viewers response to the new service, Wong says that Pearl.tvb.com pageviews have grown over 40% since July. The deal with TVB was followed in September 2008, as DAIT Asia Pacific announced a deal with New Zealand’s leading free-to-air broadcaster, TVNZ, to make a selection of ad-supported US. network series available on TVNZ’s catch up TV service, ‘TVNZ ondemand’. These series are available to viewers on-demand and free of charge just 12 hours after the local telecast on TV2. The ‘TVNZ ondemand’ service launched with the first season of Private Practice, which airs Mondays at 8:30pm on TV2. The first three episodes of Private Practice were also available online so fans can catch up on the episodes they missed on television. All episodes will be available on www.tvnzondemand.com for 28 days. Jason Paris, head of emerging business for TVNZ, said, “TVNZ is enormously proud to be able to partner with Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific) to ensure that TVNZ content is the most accessible of any media organisation in New Zealand. The addition of these highly successful US shows will ensure that our ondemand offering goes from strength to strength.” More series are following suit later this year and next including new seasons of Eli Stone, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, Criminal Minds, Dirt, Reaper, Samantha Who?, Scrubs, and “October Road. Series launch dates on ‘TVNZ ondemand’ will depend on the TV2’s broadcast schedule. TVNZ ondemand has proved to be extremely popular in the 18 months it has been going. Each month an average of 30,000 hours of television is watched via the free online service. The content is currently a mix of local shows, the latest news and current affairs and some selected UK and Australian titles. And November saw TVNZ strike a similar deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution for Sorority Forever, a new, original shortform series made specifically for the Internet from director/producer McG (upcoming Terminator Salvation feature film, Supernatural, The O.C.) and Big Fantastic. The show became available on TVNZ ondemand from November 6, 2008. Headlined by lonelygirl1 star Jessica Rose, who grew up in New Zealand and attended both Mount Maunganui College and the Academy of Film and Television Work – consists of 40 episodes (two-three minutes in length) and is an innovative mystery/drama which peeks behind the walls of one of the most intriguing secret societies in the world: the sorority. With a mystery around every corner, Sorority Forever provides viewers with an immersive experience that is simultaneously realistic and voyeuristic. TVNZ ondemand will launch the series with a five-episode special and will then feature a new episode each weekday at www.tvnzondemand.co.nz. Explains a TVNZ spokesperson, “TVNZ ondemand is a catch up television service for many key New Zealand shows. There is a mix of international content, through our deals with Disney, Warners and the BBC, plus local hits such as Shortland Street and a selection of classic local footage from our archives. The service started in March 2007.” These services are free to the viewer and only available in New Zealand. “The content is geo-fenced for New Zealand customers only. At this point in time it is only available via the Internet or over PC. However, TVNZ is advanced in its exploration of making content available on other platforms and devices.” The spokesperson says TVNZ has had a very positive response from the market. “The service has attracted both existing broadcasters and new advertisers who have never advertised on air. People have been impressed with the wealth of content available, but TVNZ is unable to share any viewing figures or consumption trends since that information is commercially sensitive.” TVAplus