Video on demand from the BBC - coming soon...

The BBC have recently completed a technical trial of their iMP (Interactive Media Player) technology. The idea is that UK-based broadband users can download and watch BBC TV and radio programmes for up to 7 days after they are broadcast. Great if you miss an episode of your favourite soap or drama. It even allows you to subscribe to a whole series (like the Sky+ 'Series Link' feature). It uses software from Kontiki which works a bit like BitTorrent and other peer-to-peer systems thereby reducing the load on the BBC's servers. Very clever idea...

The technical trial allowed the participants to view an online menu with a calendar of past, current and upcoming BBC television programs. The user simply selected the programs he or she wanted to view from the available programs and the shows were automatically delivered via the Internet to the user’s personal computer, using Kontiki’s technology. The programs were then available for online or offline viewing for seven days, giving the viewer flexibility of viewing times.

Kontiki’s Delivery Management System (DMS) software allowed the BBC to legitimately distribute their copyrighted programs over the public Internet with full digital rights management, security, and full-screen DVD quality.

Downloads are secure, correctly licenced and only available to viewers in the UK. Sounds excellent, but the use of Windows Media 9 technology may mean a Mac version is not on the cards.

More info here:
BBC: Askbruce - What is BBC iMP? (some screenshots here)
BBC iMP Homepage (not much here - was used during the trial)
Kontiki Press Release