BBC iPlayer launches on Microsoft's Xbox Live

By Andy Clough
published

BBC iPlayer is now available on all major games platforms in the UK; gets gesture and voice control for the first time

Xbox Live

BBC iPlayer is available on Microsoft's Xbox Live platform from today, meaning that the Beeb's popular video-on-demand service is now on all major gaming platforms in the UK.

Xbox owners will be able to catch up on their favourite BBC programmes using the familiar BBC iPlayer interface.

And Xbox 360 users with Kinect will, for the first time, be able to search for and play programmes using hand gestures and voice recognition.

Daniel Danker, BBC general manager, programmes and on-demand says: "Given the BBC's goal to reach its entire audience, I'm particularly excited that the BBC will be bringing iPlayer to all Xbox users at no extra cost as part of Xbox Live's free membership."

BBC iPlayer will also be launched on Sky later this year. It is already on 450 platforms and devices including Virgin Media, BT Vision, FreeSat, Freeview, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii and many smartphones, tablets and smart TVs.

Check out the BBC video below to see a demo of the service on Xbox 360.

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Andy Clough
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.