V+ : Is BBC CUTV content the same as the iplayer?

[RichardCoulter]

I remember when the iplayer was launched onto the VM platform, VM said that BBC Catch Up TV Content would remain (and it has/did).

Is this just a pointless duplication of content and of VM resources; or are there some actual differences?

Interestingly, unlike the BBC linear channels, when VM cut off a TV service access to iPlayer is lost!

[BenMcr]

You are going back a very long way, so I may not be 100% accurate here.

As far as I recall the Catch Up services for the BBC and others were around before any of the channels had their own branded service. At one point the programmes were recorded from broadcast by ntl/Telewest themselves, rather than being directly provided by the channels.

So I'm pretty sure the guarantee was mainly around the fact that although the 'iPlayer' had launched on the V box Red button i.e. had it's own menu, you would still be able to use the 'Catch Up' menus as before for the 7 days of content. Even then, some options, such as series stacking (when it was around), were only available via the iPlayer menu.

Things have moved on quite a bit since then.

But as to the root question - there is no duplication of content or VM resources in regards to the V box service. The BBC content accessible via the V boxes for Catch Up is uploaded directly by the BBC, and it's the same content no matter which way you access it.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

You are going back a very long way, so I may not be 100% accurate here.

As far as I recall the Catch Up services for the BBC and others were around before any of the channels had their own branded service. At one point the programmes were recorded from broadcast by ntl/Telewest themselves, rather than being directly provided by the channels.

So I'm pretty sure the guarantee was mainly around the fact that although the 'iPlayer' had launched on the V box Red button i.e. had it's own menu, you would still be able to use the 'Catch Up' menus as before for the 7 days of content. Even then, some options, such as series stacking (when it was around), were only available via the iPlayer menu.

Things have moved on quite a bit since then.

But as to the root question - there is no duplication of content or VM resources in regards to the V box service. The BBC content accessible via the V boxes for Catch Up is uploaded directly by the BBC, and it's the same content no matter which way you access it.

Thanks Ben. I didn't know that using either method led to the very same content!