BBC issues guidelines for iPlayer porting

The BBC has today published new guidelines that outline how potential partners can syndicate the standard iPlayer product. They also lay out the scope for BBC investment in customisation and bespoke development for larger platforms.

According to Kerstin Mogull COO BBC FM&T:

“The number of connected devices entering the market over the next few years is likely to accelerate. We’d like them all to be able to access iPlayer, and we’d encourage them to use our standard technologies to do so. However, for some that may not be possible. An ever increasing number of companies want us to build them a bespoke iPlayer; more than we can reasonably afford.

Today we’ve published new guidelines that outline how potential partners can syndicate our standard iPlayer product. They also lay out the scope for our investment in customisation and bespoke development for larger platforms.”

In the event of the standard products being inappropriate, the BBC will consider investing resource (subject to cost restrictions) to ensure that BBC iPlayer can be accessed by larger-scale devices/platforms:

• The BBC will consider adjusting its standard iPlayer technology products for specific device families with an installed base of over 100,000.
• The BBC will consider bespoke development of iPlayer technology for specific device families with an installed base of over 500,000.

More: The guidelines