With apologies to international readers (or at least those unable to geospoof), I thought it was time for a round up of how the top UK broadcasters are faring with their internet TV efforts.
ITV - have played a quick game of catch up and now offer a reasonable streaming service. ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 have simulcast and lots of full archive programmes such as Morse, Prime Suspect and Cracker are available for free without registration: http://www.itv.com/BestofITV/default.html
They also offer an excellent scheduled and on demand local TV service at http://itvlocal.tv/
Channel 4 also has a simulcast service at: http://geo.channel4.com/player/simulcast/index.jsp
and a free and paid for on demand service called 4OD with both streaming and download content. All their services require registration: http://www.channel4.com/4od/index.html
Five is far poorer with some pathetic YouTube clips and a paid for downloads only featuring CSI and Grey's Anatomy: http://download.five.tv/
The BBC has a seven day streaming catch up and thirty day download catch up of most domestically produced shows through their improving iPlayer initiative: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
BBC News 24 is available simulcast (you may need to access via www.bbc.co.uk/news):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7192300?redirect=7192347.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1
Last, and very much least is UKTV who have practically nothing apart from programme trailers.
Meanwhile, in Wales, S4C viewers can watch on demand videos: http://www.s4c.co.uk/c_watch.shtml
And a simulcast of S4C: http://s4c.unique-media.tv/s4c_uk_live
A pretty impressive roundup, considering that there was little apart from programme trailers available just a year ago. I think it might just be time to throw out the telly and settle down in front of the PC.
ITV - have played a quick game of catch up and now offer a reasonable streaming service. ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 have simulcast and lots of full archive programmes such as Morse, Prime Suspect and Cracker are available for free without registration: http://www.itv.com/BestofITV/default.html
They also offer an excellent scheduled and on demand local TV service at http://itvlocal.tv/
Channel 4 also has a simulcast service at: http://geo.channel4.com/player/simulcast/index.jsp
and a free and paid for on demand service called 4OD with both streaming and download content. All their services require registration: http://www.channel4.com/4od/index.html
Five is far poorer with some pathetic YouTube clips and a paid for downloads only featuring CSI and Grey's Anatomy: http://download.five.tv/
The BBC has a seven day streaming catch up and thirty day download catch up of most domestically produced shows through their improving iPlayer initiative: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
BBC News 24 is available simulcast (you may need to access via www.bbc.co.uk/news):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7192300?redirect=7192347.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1
Last, and very much least is UKTV who have practically nothing apart from programme trailers.
Meanwhile, in Wales, S4C viewers can watch on demand videos: http://www.s4c.co.uk/c_watch.shtml
And a simulcast of S4C: http://s4c.unique-media.tv/s4c_uk_live
A pretty impressive roundup, considering that there was little apart from programme trailers available just a year ago. I think it might just be time to throw out the telly and settle down in front of the PC.
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