UK On-demand TV services ComparedFebruary 2009

Content

• BBC iPlayer – pg 3• Sky Player – pg 4• ITV Player – pg 5• 4oD – pg 6• BT Vision – pg 7• Tiscali TV – pg 8• Demand Five – pg 9• Top UP TV – pg 10

BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer delivers high quality programmes and provides excellent user accessibility, all at no cost, making it the best on-demand service in the UK

Content: All BBC broadcast and radio programmes, plus imported and overseas programmes

Catch up period: 7 days, 30 days for downloads

Platform availability:•PC/Linux/Mac•Game consoles •Home Media Hubs•Mobiles (iPhone)•Portable Media Players (PMP)

Software requirement: iPlayer Download ManagerOn-demand pricing: Free

Sky Player offers a wide variety of programmes plus Live TV and Sky Movies as part of an existing TV package. However, access via different platforms is limited and user registration experience is a little too complicated

Content: 500+ films, 1000+ episodes from 25 channelsHighlights from Sky Sports

Catch up period: 30 Days, 48 hrs for rentals7 Days for downloads

Platform availability: PC/Mac

Software requirement: Sky Player SoftwareAdvertising: Ads run during live streaming only

On-demand pricing: Free for customers with packages ranging from £7.50 - £30 per month, £1 per programme and £2 per film download

Sky Player

ITV Player

ITV Player streams all popular ITV shows plus high demand programmes such as FA Cup highlights for free, all without the need for registration. However, with too many built in ads, it can be off putting to some users.

Content: All ITV programmes plus highlights from ITV Sports

Catch up period: 30 days48 hours for downloads

Platform availability: PC/Mac

Software requirement: Microsoft Silverlight

Advertising: Ad breaks every 15 min

On-demand pricing: Free

Channel4 - 4oD

4oD provides users with multiple options for high quality content available on pre-booking and catch up service, and requires very little technical skills from users.

Content: 1000+ programmes and films across all C4 channels as part of the 40 Freeview channel package

Catch up period: 30 days48 hours for downloads

Platform availability: PC

Software requirement: 4oD

Advertising: Built-in adverts

On-demand pricing: Free for streaming, archives and US dramas£0.99 per rent, £1.99 per download

BT Vision

BT Vision offers a large catalogue of popular programmes on replay, which can be recorded on V-box™, a digital TV recorder. There are some excellent additional services such as Freeview channels and Interactive Games, but accessibility is limited to existing customers only.

Content: 1,000+ programmes and entertainment content, 40 Freeview channels

Catch up period: 7 days

Platform availability: Vbox set-top box

Software requirement: BT Vision Self Install

Advertising: none

On-demand pricing: Free for BT Total broadband package users (£6.85 – £12.72 per month) £1.94 per download

Tiscali TV

Tiscali On-Demand is the best value on demand service and offers a variety of content for an additional cost. Tiscali TV also offers additional channels each month with a 30 days cap as well as sports programmes from Setanta.

Content: Up to 350 programmes, 1,000+ films from 70 channels

Catch up period: 7 days

Platform availability: PC/Mac

Software requirement: web streaming only

Advertising: none

On-demand pricing: On-demand packages range from £6 - £15.99, £0.99 per download

Demand Five

Demand Five offers a mixture of free and paid for programmes. It has a great choice of programmes including a number or popular entertainment shows and overseas films, however it can cost more than you bargained for.

Content: All programmes across Five channel, plus high profile entertainmentprogrammes

Catch up period: 30 days, 48 hrs for downloads

Platform availability: PC, PMPs and TVs with VGA or S-video cable

Software requirement: My Five Player

Advertising: Ads before programmes

On-demand pricing: Free, £0.99-£1.99 for rentals

Published by Richard BakerANT Software Limited

www.antplc.com