From today Xbox 360 owners can access BBC iPlayer on their console through Xbox Live for free. Great news for 360 owners who can now join Sony PS3 and Nintendo Wii users in viewing the best of BBC television on their games machine.
Xbox Kinect users also get enhanced functionality as they can control the iPlayer with their voice and hand gestures rather than the traditional controller. Programmes are available in Standard Definition and many are also available in HD too. You can search for content by category, most popular, channel and featured. The app also includes a search tool if you’re hunting for a particular show.
How to get iPlayer on your Xbox 360
Turn on your Xbox 360 and sign into your Xbox Live account (Free or Gold). BBC iPlayer should be promoted on the main Xbox LIVE dashboard from today. Alternatively you can download the free app from the Video section of Microsoft’s App Marketplace directly from your console. Select BBC iPlayer and follow the onscreen instruction. Once it has installed, you’ll find the iPlayer App in My Apps under the Video category.
The BBC iPlayer website has also posted some handy FAQ’s on the service:
Is BBC iPlayer compatible with Xbox Kinect controls?
Yes, in addition to using a standard game controller, Kinect users can control BBC iPlayer using motion gestures and voice commands. Xbox standard Kinect controls are used. Please refer to your Kinect instructions for further information regarding kinect controls.
Where is the volume control on Xbox 360 BBC iPlayer?
No on-screen audio volume control is available. To alter the audio level you will need to change the volume on your television.
Does my personalisation list on my computer transfer across to the Xbox 360 version?
BBC ID is not available for BBC iPlayer For TV so your personalisation choices are devices specific.
Can I resume viewing from where I left off?
Programme resume is not available at launch, but will become a feature in a future update.
What Bandwidth is required for HD Playback?
HD programmes are streamed at 2800 kb/s. If are experiencing buffering issues and you think you have a fast enough connection, first make sure that no other users are using heavy bandwidth on the same network. Our Diagnostic Tool can help advise what quality versions of BBC iPlayer you should be able to receive. If you continue to experience problems, contact your ISP.
Are all programmes that are available on the PC version of iPlayer available on Xbox 360?
No. Due to rights restrictions a small amount of content that is available on the PC version of iPlayer, such as films, may not be available on the Xbox 360. In addition, programmes that were originally broadcasted only via the BBC Red Button service are currently unavailable. In such instances please use the PC version of BBC iPlayer.
Why are some programmes not available to watch in High Definition?
A programme needs to have been broadcast either on the BBC HD or BBC One HD channel to be available in HD on BBC iPlayer. Sometimes a programme isn’t available in HD due to rights restrictions, or because we do not have the capacity to make it available. Also, if a programme was broadcast live it may take longer for the HD version to be available due to additional processing required. In these instances please try again later.
BBC iPlayer joins Xbox’s growing list of video on demand apps which already include LoveFilm, Netflix and 4oD.
