BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Just noticed that the BBC iPlayer has become available from the red button on BBC1 (and presumably the other BBC channels as well). Had a quick look at it, not too bad, reasonably speedy at least on a V+, menu structure is OK but not brilliant, unfortunately picture quality at least on the few programmes I've skimmed through leaves a lot to be desired. Very blocky with obvious compression artifacts.

I've only ever downloaded programmes from iPlayer and played them directly on my TV from a PC, so I can't say how the quality compares to streaming from the BBC site.

Still it's well worth a look.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I cant get into it at the moment. "There is a problem loading the BBC iPlayer service" or stuck on "please wait".
Must be very busy!

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Working great here.

Quality is easily as good as live BBC. Much better than the VM's on demand. Nice interface, quite fast too. You can still skip, etc. If only all channels had it. Presumably the BBC iPlayer traffic is kept separate from your broadband traffic allowance.

Very impressed :clap:

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Working fine here in hampshire.Looks good

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

yeah its here in Sheffield aswell like.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

So what's happened to the BBC programs in the normal catch up TV section? Is it still there?

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Yummy transparent menus and accurate cuts to the program with an intro like C4OD unlike the roughly timed catch up. The search works very nicely too.

From what I've read elsewhere, I-player will be part of the catch-up menus in future so I'd imagine they'll remove BBC content from there, for the time being tho' catch-up BBC is still available. This is supposed to be a soft-launch, probably to iron out any bugs before it goes prime-time.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I hope they don't remove BBC content from the regular catch up menus, it would be highly inconvenient to be forced to load up a seperate menu just for BBC programming.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I-Player uses the same systems as Catch-up so it'd be no different except with prettier menus and a search and with more reliable content (1 hour after transmission). As I said, this is a soft-launch via the red-button. Complete integration into the catch-up menu system is planned.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

+1!

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Just tried it out and I'm impressed. Pretty quick and I like the transparent windows. Also, I find the list easier to navigate through. Nice one! :tu:

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Yes, it's quite impressive and looks good. I particularly like the search facility, whereby you can type in the name of the programme you are looking for with your remote control.

More programmes than before on there, too.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Yes, the content comes down through the TV frequencies, outside the IP streams.

Worked fine here, if a bit slow on my non-V+ SA STB. Once you anticipate the lag and work out how to sort the menus it's a bit better, but the viewing experience itself (last week's HIGNFY) was fine. Can see this getting a lot of use, it's a killer app.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

damn if only my red button worked :-(

need to call VM to get that sorted so will do so tonight and hopefully I can start to use iplayer.

What i on there at the moment ? Is there a listing anywhere ?

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I presume its the same as the Interweb BBC iPlayer content. The good thing about iPlayer over Catch Up is it has more content, including the less popular shows like Eggheads.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

i watch egghead and always thought that was a popular show.

At least VM is starting to move in the right direction.

Now we just need HD on iplayer and some new HD channels

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

i can see why they have done this... makes good sense... but after all the crap they been saying about iplayer using up too much bandwidth on virgins broadband network i think they have done this to save them selves a few quid ;) you might remember virgin saying not all that long ago that they wanted to charge bbc to let the customers download as much as they would like!!

ok it IS good for the customer..... but they allways gonna sugar coat this as something other than what it is... a money saving exercise to save their failing oversubscribed broadband network

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

seems slower than vod to load to menu's. Not sure about menu's. Plenty of content.
might grow on me.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Great I'll give this a go!

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I am very very impressed. :tu: well done VM.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

When I posted earlier it was quite fast. A bit faster than standard VOD. I tried it this evening and it was a bit slower. Maybe its dependent on user load.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Meh, doesn't work. Says 'loading' for a few seconds, then that disappears. No error message...

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

same here

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Can't get the red button working on my V box.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

at long last it here, had quink look , it better then catch up tv on demand, look like there more on i player. well done virgin. just some hd channels and some more new channels.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

If it never works, even after a reboot it sounds as though you have an interactive provisioning problem. Give 150 a call and they will be abe to solve it or go to the Technical Support newsgroup "virginmedia.support.tv"

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

same here as well, it works with virgin central but not with any bbc channels :mad::mad:

---------- Post added at 01:54 ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 ----------


i did call 150 and they tried tlling me it was not their fault and i should phone the bbc

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Tried this on the Vbox and it worked a treat. Not tried on V+ yet. The menus are quite slick a nicely transparent - the menu designed for VM could do with listening to the BBC chap.

But what happened to the awesome full screen menu with videos and a 'blade' like system? Which platform's getting that?

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Not sure what problem you have but test out the red button on say ITV and Five a well if your whole red button doesn't work then call them back and explain that to them. Say you have already rebooted a few times.

Also get them to check you have "interactive" setup on your account as this needs to be registered on your bill even though it is free for it to work.

I did this last night and they will now call me back with an appointment time as mine has never worked either just didn't have much reason to use it before

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I think you will find the BBC have content delivery servers within VM's network to aid the delivery of VOD content. This also serves the online Iplayer as far as im aware thus reducing the network load by hosting the streams locally within VM's network.

Impz

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Have just tried it with ITV and Five and it will not work with them either, the interactive has been setup on my account and works ok.

Have also noticed something else this morning, i doubt its connected to this problem but in the settings menu and tech stuff the SNR is : 32.0dB, N/AdB, 32.0dB

and the AGC signel level is -9dBmV, N/AdBmV, -9dBmV

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

hope we get match of the day on the bbc iplayer

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

The BBC would have to re-negotiate with the Premier League for that to ever happen and I doubt Sky would be very happy about it either. Virgin also own rights to show highlights online.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Thought I would give this iplayer a go. Does not work on my V+. I can choose any programme but when I choose to watch the screen darkens (can still see programme on channel), sound goes off, play icon appears then................nothing. Reboot time again. Thanks VM for yet another unreliable poorly tested addition.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

works fine for me

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Very impressed with the iplayer works well on my V box & V+ box
All the content is copy protected tho like '4OD'

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Works ok in Edinburgh. Def good. I am puzzled re the refs to red button in ITV - I've never had this, is there one? C5 has RB, but not ITV.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Hang on a sec there, does it not occur to you that it might just be you who is having issues ? im sure the iplayer has been extensively tested and also remember this is a kind of soft-launch anyways before it is fully integrated into the VOD service so they may still make bug fixes.

From what i have seen in this thread and my from personal experience i think it is a great service and it works well for me!

Ring VM if you cant access it as they may be able to correct the issue for you !

Impz

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I get a red "i" button on the top right hand corner of the screen on ITV1

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I'm very, very impressed. it even works in Southampton.

nice job Virgin.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Yep works very well credit where its due well done bbc/vm.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I've used the cable iplayer a bit now. I like it. It has a couple of faults, but it's good.

I think that the menu is a bit limited. It's good having a category based menu, but it's not always clear which category a programme is in (some could go in two or three categories), so it would be nice to select a programme another way (such as day/time).

I also think that the back button could be implemented. I like the way that on OnDemand, you can always go back to the previous menu. It's handy if you want to see several programmes. iPlayer seems to do nothing if you press Back (at least while a programme is playing) and throws you back to TV if you hit TV..

Also, I've noticed that the colours on the content of iPlayer are darker. Almost as if someone has applied a filter to make the content look like film.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I'm very impressed however the navigation is a bit hit and miss. I would prefer the first menu to give you the option to choose from Channel, Day and Category - that woud mak more sense to me anyway.

Read this BBC Blog: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcintern...54c24c1f7.html

They are asking for feedback and have responded to several questions (some of which have been raised here) and they are listening :)

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Look at the big picture and look how many here Say it works.

Then think about why it does not work for you. :dunce:

Trust me it works and it works fine so might i suggest you get a tech out to look at why Yours does not work.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

This may help, I got mine working on BBC 1.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Mine is now working fine. It did not work when I first tried. I have done nothing not even a reboot. After I posted I found all of my On demand was down. I did not call 151 or reboot, it just started working the next day. I apologise to posters who thought i was just ranting.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

It's not often you'll hear me complain about this but... now I'm on TV XL I've got 140 channels - plenty to watch and I'm happy, but on-demand is getting hard for me to control!

iPlayer's great, and I can now choose from all the BBC shows on the iPlayer through red button. I also get selections of this week's TV in Catch Up on Demand, stuff Virgin chooses on Virgin Central channel 119, Music on Demand through the home menu, and TV Choice on Demand with all sorts of sub channels and genres.

Navigating is becoming a challenge, and together with my own V+ recordings - I almost think I've got too much telly to choose from! This time a few months ago I was only on five channel analogue. Think I've taken it too far too soon!

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

iplayer is great, about time the license money was put to use. This puts BBC back on top in my opinion. Let's wait for the new 4od now. Don't need to v+ BBC now.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Impressive. Don't have all the content of the Web based iPlayer but apparently it will grow over time.

Picture quality is very good - if a little dark. Notice how when you come out of iPlayer your screen lightens?

The only downside is menu is sloooooooow!

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Silly me. I thought it was about content, not delivery.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

1) There's a new 4oD? Or just hoping?
2) I wouldn't rely on it too much straight away, I'd see what it's like for putting stuff on before you don't record BBC programs.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

New 4od should be in may sometime. According to the "coming Soon" thread.
Just found my first thing to complain about. Fast forward and rewind are only at 1 speed, not like the v+ with its 4 speeds

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

AFAIK this works just the same as other On Demand video?

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Is it me or is there no BBC iPlayer option now after pressing the red button?

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Working here but the i player just not as prominent.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Love it

I like the see-thru (Vista Desktop) look
I like the quick navigation
I really like the Windows style sort methods (by name, time, or something else i forgot) - i've been sole campaigner for this same thing on V+ (one dimensional) EPG but nobody else was fussed
Just played a test peice and it was very good quality - as good as broadcast - better than VOD

looking forward to the same on ITV and i'll put up without much H/Def this year

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

...where we are (West London) the iPlayer picture is very poor compared to the broadcast and VOD material.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

i only tried one thing - which was very good - but like VOD offering i expect it varies from programme to programme

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Yeah - maybe.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Just found this thread, didn't even notice we had it "well done VM for informing us".

Anyway one reboot later and all working fine. Picture quality was no different from normal transmission. Now my Mrs can stop hogging my PC when she has missed a programme thats on iplayer.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

I like BBCI player it is very good. How do you search for programmes on BBC I PLLAYER

thanks Andrew

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

press the blue button

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

ok after a reboot managed to get it to work. Very slow menu and all, but its ok.

2 questions:

1. Is it free to use? I mean I am on the "M" [basic] tv package.

2. We haven't yet set up a PIN for the box [even after all these years of having VM], so can I call up and get it set up [to watch programmes like the Apprentice you need a PIN], or does the account holder have to do it? I have full access to the account as such if that helps, since it is me dealing with VM whenever something goes wrong:dunce: [lucky me lol]

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

If you haven't customised the pin it's 1-2-3-4 by default

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

or sometimes 0 0 0 0 if 1 2 3 4 doesn't work :)

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

How do I know which one it is? Surely the box wont let me try too many times before screwing up:erm::D:p:

Also, is it free?

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

Yup tis free!

You can type your PIN in wrong three times before you are locked out for 15 mins :)

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

after a few calls to and from virgin my red button service is now working for the Iplayer.

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

The iPlayer was initially working on my STB (here in Reading), but the last few days I haven't been able to get it to work. If I press the red button I get the "just loading, please wait" message, but after an extended wait it disappears and nothing further happens. I did try a reboot.

Anyone having similar experiences?

Re: BBC iPlayer now available via Red Button
 

You are lucky In Cardiff we ( well my house & next door) Have not had a red button since Friday !!! on any BBC channel via virgin . but its on freeview ( same TV{ built in}) :erm: