The BBC’s iPlayer catch-up TV service is getting set for release around the world.
BBC director general Mark Thompson said that the Beeb intends to launch an international commercially available version of the service within the year. He made the announcement at this year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival along with the intention to “find a way of letting UK licence fee payers and servicemen and women use the UK iPlayer wherever they are in the world”.
No details were forthcoming however on how the service would be paid for, or if UK licence fee payers will be able to use the service without further payment from wherever they are in the world.
The iPlayer is currently only available in the UK and while the site can be accessed from anywhere in the world, foreign visitors are banned from streaming or downloading the site’s content.