BBC and Google in talks to launch international iPlayer site

BBC and Google in talks to launch international iPlayer site. BBC content is also available on YouTube in the UK, but only in short clip format. This step would mean BBC shows could be seen globally in their entirety on the iPlayer platform supported by YouTube.

The BBC iPlayer allows viewers to watch popular BBC programmes for up to seven days after they were first broadcast.

BBC content is also available on YouTube in the UK, but only in short clip format. This step would mean BBC shows could be seen globally in their entirety on the iPlayer platform supported by YouTube. A BBC spokesperson said: “There are a significant number of obstacles to extending this commercially to other countries, including international rights clearance. These obstacles present significant difficulties and for this reason there are no firm plans for a specific international BBC iPlayer, but audiences can watch BBC content outside the UK through numerous BBC Worldwide content deals with online partners such as iTunes.”

Separate talks are understood to be happening concurrently between YouTube and BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation, about making the BBC’s archive content, for which international licenses have already been acquired, available on YouTube in their entirety.

Related articles by Zemanta

• BBC and Google in talks to launch international iPlayer site (telegraph.co.uk)