PS3 Firmware 3.0: Hands On With BBC iPlayer
Firmware 3.0 hit the PlayStation 3 tonight, and a long requested feature of UK gamers came along with the update. We got our hands on the BBC iPlayer to give you the full run down of the PS3’s latest new service.
BBC iPlayer is a video streaming and downloading service that allows UK citizens to watch BBC shows online a mere 1 hour after it has shown on television for up to 7 days. It also boasts a ‘Series Stacking’ feature which allows viewers to watch previous programmes from selected series until the series has ended, with a limit of up to thirteen weeks after first broadcast.
While the service came under heavy criticism, with the development costing well over £6million and with running costs estimated to be as high as £830 million, BBC iPlayer has become a highly requested feature among UK gamers.
The BBC iPlayer is certainly no stranger to consoles, on April 9, 2008 it was announced that the Wii would be able to stream video content via the Internet Channel by a recoding of the iPlayer to use Flash 7 rather than Flash 9.
Understandably, many PS3 owners grew annoyed that the Wii, as well as iPhones and several other leading phones gained iPlayer access while the site was not accessible through the iPlayer website on the PlayStation 3 browser.
An unofficial hack was created a week after the Wii launch, which combined Javascript, CSS and user-agent masking to mimic the Internet Channel browser, allowing PlayStation 3 owners to access the iPlayer through the unofficial website. Whilst the BBC admitted they were “impressed”, they also remarked that it was not “the best possible iPlayer proposition for that console”, and that they would be “investigating the optimal video profile and browser proposition” for it in due course.
From December 2008, the PlayStation 3 was able to work directly through the iPlayer website and at Gamescom 2009 it was announced that an official iPlayer application widget would be provided with the newly released 3.0 firmware update.
The widget, which is essentially a stylised shortcut link, brings PS3 owners to the BBC’s ‘BigScreen interface‘ (UK residents only) website, where users can stream iPlayer programs and listen to live radio. Fortunately, the site utilises the full screen flash capability of the PS3, which was brought in after Firmware 2.53. However, the PS3 does lack the download feature of the PC software which allowed viewers to store videos on their hard drive for up to 30 days, and can only, like the Wii, stream videos through the website.
The BBC link can be found under the TV icon (between Video and Games) and is accessible after updating to firmware 3.0, but is restricted to UK residents only as it is funded by British citizens paying a license fee of £142.50 per household. The BBC is one of many European broadcasters that has pledged its support to PSN, with others including rtve, Antena 3, laSexta and 2DF.
25 Responses to “PS3 Firmware 3.0: Hands On With BBC iPlayer”
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September 1st, 2009 at 2:25 AM
How do they know who is a ‘resident’ vs those who just have a uk psn account?
Where’s the us version/ firmware 3.0 hulu fix?
09/01/2009 at 11:52 AM
Or better… Hulu Desktop-like interface on PS3. It looks alot like BBC iPlayer.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:32 AM
Found it on BBC site. Based on Network.
ps3 in the UK is better than ps3 in the US.
Anyone in the UK need a roommate?
September 1st, 2009 at 2:33 AM
@draegen, because its through the BBC’s website they check your ip to see which country you are in.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:05 AM
I wonder what’d happen if I mailed them £142…
September 1st, 2009 at 3:20 AM
What about for US?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:31 AM
@ kirobz
We don’t pay for the BBC, it’s supported by taxes. It wouldn’t be fair if we got it for free. PS3 owners in the UK are already paying hand over fist, they deserve some cool exclusive stuff.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:46 AM
Looks like there is a problem with this one!! A few people aint getting the iPlayer icon! maybe something to do with having Playtv . Updated both my PS3’s, both have Playtv installed on them and neither have the iPlayer icon. Before you ask I’m in the UK.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:09 AM
me2 mate
September 1st, 2009 at 5:24 AM
Got one of the PS3’s working found you have to reboot the machine. Apparently only works on UK machines, serial ends in 03 and refurbs end in 04, this is why iplayer does not show up for my JAP other machine
09/01/2009 at 11:53 AM
holy shnike, how many PS3s do you have?
September 1st, 2009 at 7:45 AM
I will definitely be giving this a try tonight… I will no doubt then have to explain to the wife how to use it so she can catch up on Eastenders! My console should not be used for this!!!!
Will you be able to download and watch off line as with the PC version?
September 1st, 2009 at 8:02 AM
nop you wont mate, mines working now, whats also annyoying is it isnt a app, just a shotcut to the old crap one, and it doesnt even fit on my tv properly so you get bits cut off at the sides all the time
:@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
September 1st, 2009 at 8:05 AM
Oh. I was expecting something more. I’ve been using iPlayer on the PS3 for a long time, so all this does is save me opening the bookmarks list from the browser and selecting “BBC iPlayer”.
How this can be hyped as a “feature” is beyond me. It’s a predefined bookmark, nothing more.
September 1st, 2009 at 8:06 AM
@Aneurinbiker You need to change your TV’s widescreen mode. It works fine on a Bravia.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Just a note to UK people who cant see the symbol all you have to do is connect to the internet so it can check your IP, try starting up Home and it should appear
September 1st, 2009 at 9:20 AM
GO AWAY IPLAYER.
I don’t want it there, it’s cluttering up my now hideous xmb.
Sony had better sort this out.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:42 AM
[...] Original post : PlayStation LifeStyle » PS3 Firmware 3.0: Hands On With BBC iPlayer [...]
September 1st, 2009 at 3:00 PM
[...] PlayStation LifeStyle » PS3 Firmware 3.0: Hands On With BBC iPlayer [...]
September 1st, 2009 at 3:40 PM
I played with some guys From Manchester the other day and they are still watchoing re-=runs of The fresh prince of belair, great show …….. 15 years ago
September 1st, 2009 at 11:13 PM
With all these free avenues to get media why do I always see someone on the us blog complaining about not have access to the US PSN video store that’s packed with US media?
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:28 AM
mine brand spankers 80gb dont show the TV icon either, someone experienced please help!
(in the UK by the way)
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 PM
I u/g to 3.0 yesterday, the iPlayer (& TV icon) didn’t appear at first but today they popped up – great!! But a big disappointment its only a bookmark. However the problem I have is I can’t get it to play any video?!! I can browse through the iPlayer menus, choose the TV program but whatever I press on the remote doesn’t play anything. Any suggestions?? Thanks.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Jayjmarsh, I’m having this exact problem, its like the javascript isn’t working or something :/
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 PM
jayj: try playing a radio show first, sorted it for me.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Really strange – tried iPlayer again this evening and it works fine!! The interface looks slightly different too, it now uses all of the screen…
September 20th, 2009 at 5:30 AM
[...] UK residents can watch the show through BBC iPlayer, or, ironically, through their PS3. [...]