BBC iPlayer goes HD

[Bob The Skutter]

For those who've been looking forward to it, BBC iPlayer has finally gone HD. There'll only be the same 40 hours or so per week that's currently airing on BBC HD, but it's a start.

From BBC Press Office

The BBC HD channel is now available via BBC iPlayer, enabling users to stream HD programmes for seven days after first broadcast, or download and watch them within 30 days.



BBC HD – the BBC's free-to-air high definition channel, available on satellite and cable – features a wide range of programmes from across other BBC TV channels.



With up to five times more detail than standard definition television, HD enhances the viewing experience, providing exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures.


Upcoming highlights on the BBC HD channel that can now be enjoyed in HD via BBC iPlayer include the next three Doctor Who specials across 2009, the new series of Dragons' Den, children's show Kerwhizz, the BBC's revival of classic sitcom The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin starring Martin Clunes and daytime drama Moving On, executive produced by Jimmy McGovern.
Alongside the introduction of BBC HD programmes on BBC iPlayer, higher quality streams are also available from today within a new resizable media player.

 

[Servo]

Awesome. I browse the net using my PS3, so I'll definitely be taking advantage of this.

 

[Marc]

What bandwidth is needed to stream HD though? I can see it taking a huge chank of bandwith and data.

then again in Australia the federal government has just announced a fibre to the home broadband system to built over the next 8 years. The naysayers are saying current ADSL2 speeds are fine but would think HD streaming would be the ideal sort of thing to take advantage of 100Mbit links.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I just wish they'd make a plug in for Media Center, to make it easier to play them through the Media Center interface. I suppose I could always just install it and play the downloads, but it's more fiddly.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

What bandwidth is needed to stream HD though? I can see it taking a huge chank of bandwith and data.

then again in Australia the federal government has just announced a fibre to the home broadband system to built over the next 8 years. The naysayers are saying current ADSL2 speeds are fine but would think HD streaming would be the ideal sort of thing to take advantage of 100Mbit links.

I just tried, it was streaming fine on my 8mbps connection. Looking at my bandwidth meter though it's nearly maxed out.
Downloads seem to be about 1.2gb for an hour show.

 

[JoeZhang]

What bandwidth is needed to stream HD though? I can see it taking a huge chank of bandwith and data.

then again in Australia the federal government has just announced a fibre to the home broadband system to built over the next 8 years. The naysayers are saying current ADSL2 speeds are fine but would think HD streaming would be the ideal sort of thing to take advantage of 100Mbit links.

I just tried, it was streaming fine on my 8mbps connection. Looking at my bandwidth meter though it's nearly maxed out.
Downloads seem to be about 1.2gb for an hour show.

(((unlimited connection)))

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Lucky you. Mine's only unlimited between the hours of 12am-8am.