iPlayer to be built into set-top boxes

 

Gallery

By Stuart Turton

Posted on 11 Dec 2008 at 14:49

The BBC has announced that it's partnering with ITV to develop the next generation of Freeview.

Under the proposals put forward by the broadcasters, future Freeview boxes will have a broadband connection allowing them to access content from television on-demand services such as BBC's iPlayer, alongside traditional programming.

The two networks say they will look at signing deals with services such as "YouTube and Kangaroo or whoever it happens to be to put their content through the set-top box."

However, the companies say it is too early to start talking about specific content deals, given that the first product based on the partnership is unlikely to hit the market until 2010.

"At the moment we're just announcing our intention to work together on this product. It's very, very preliminary. This is how we see Freeview evolving going forward," an ITV spokesperson tells PC Pro.

Click here for Barry Collins' views on the iPlayer's proposed new features