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BBC iPlayer

The past couple of years have seen an explosion in so-called 'on demand' television services, which offer viewers the chance to catch up with TV shows they have missed. Many of these services are powered by broadband and available over the internet. One such example is the BBC iPlayer.

What is the BBC iPlayer?

BBC iPlayer is an application that you can get on your computer, which enables you to play anything you like from a selection of BBC television and radio programmes from the past seven days. The beauty of the BBC iPlayer is that you can access the programmes whenever you like, meaning that you - and not the schedulers - choose when you'll see them.

How does it work?

BBC iPlayer is one of a number of 'TV over broadband' services that offer broadcast content over the internet. The clue to how it works is in the name - TV over broadband - which means quite simply that broadcasters use broadband to transmit television shows to websites and (in the case of the applications like iPlayer and 4OD that have download managers) your computer.

How do I get started?

Go to the BBC iPlayer website and you can start watching shows right away. It doesn't matter which operating system your computer runs, as long as you have an up-to-date internet browser installed (and a good broadband connection, obviously).

What is 'streaming'?

Streaming is the name given to the process of transmitting video or audio content over the internet. The content is continually downloaded in small chunks and passed to your computer screen.

Can I keep shows?

Yes. If you've got Windows XP or Vista, you can use the BBC iPlayer Download Manager to save shows to your computer where they'll stay for up to 30 days. Once opened, you have seven days to watch the programme as many times as you wish.

BBC iPlayer website

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