BBC rejects iPlayer sharing plan

20 October 2009 12:57pm

A proposal to allow a federation of broadcasters such as Channel 4 and ITV to share the BBC's iPlayer has been rejected by the BBC Trust.

The plans had been put forward by the BBC Executive to allow a partnership with public service broadcasters and develop a more comprehensive video-on-demand service.

But the Trust rejected the proposal, saying the mix of commercial and public service components was too complicated.

However the Trust did not close the door on a deal and said it would be willing to looking at further ideas to make iPlayer technology open to others if they were "simpler".

It said it would consider "an alternative proposal for the licensing of the iPlayer technology to third parties if that can be done on a simple, fair and commercial basis".

The BBC Executive formulated a plan - known as the 'open iPlayer' proposals - to make the technology commercially available to other broadcasters.

They also involved creating an online "federation" between the BBC and the other public service broadcasters - including C4, ITV and Five - and establishing links with other on-demand sites.

But the BBC Trust was concerned that although the ideas put forward had "considerable strategic significance", they did not give enough "value" to licence payers.

And the combination of commercial and public service parts prevented the Trust from looking at the "commercial suggestions as a standalone plan".

Diane Coyle, BBC Trustee and chairwoman of the Trust's strategic approvals committee, said: "The iPlayer is a success, and we believe that access to its technology could be useful to other broadcasters. The Trust supports the BBC's aim of sharing the benefits of the iPlayer."

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