BBC’s iPlayer

Yesterday 3DTVWatcher reported on BBC’s 3D plans, and Sharp’s new wi-fi enabled 3D Blu-ray player the BD-HP90S, and now the two products look set to form the nucleus of what might well become a major part of the future of 3DTV. We are talking of course, about internet hosted 3D content and specifically BBC’s iPlayer. Sky have a dedicated 3D channel, and Virgin host their 3D content through their on-demand service, and it looks as if the BBC will host a similar service to the latter with their 3D content.

Danielle Nagler, the head of BBC 3D spoke to Broadband TV News and others about their strategy.
“Part of our thinking around a pipeline of projects is how we can distribute content as widely as possible. It is quite important as consoles have 3D and more and more people have laptop and smaller screen capability and connected-TVs that we think about how we can use iPlayer as a way to get limited pieces of content to people.”



The opinion of the 3DTVWatcher team has been that 3D on the go will be a winner, and will aid the popularity of the format, and it is apparent that the BBC believes this to be an essential part of their own plans for 3DTV. Nagler’s description of the BBC’s plan to spread their 3D content as far and wide as possible is encouraging for the industry, as it has been feared that the tridimensional format may become a niche interest.
Another concern has been the price of 3D hardware, let alone the higher price of seeing a 3D film at the cinema or paying for 3D on-demand, through Virgin for example. Affordability is a principle the BBC has always stood by, and the corporation has always endeavoured to provide value for money. According to Nagler, 3D will not be the exception to this rule.



“For us the goal is what we make in 3D can be accessed by audiences, without paying a premium for it, I would bet that in five years time that will be possible.”



Whilst a few years away, the wheels seem to be firmly in motion, and modest ambitions are in place to ensure that no hype will spoil the BBC’s 3D pledge. “I think it will be one-offs, we’re starting with three minutes, it could be in five years we choose to make a whole series in 3D…”
Nagler’s plans for taking the BBC’s programming to the next level are good for the industry, and the next few years will be interesting; our only hope is that Total Wipeout will be produced in 3D…