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BBC iPlayer: PS3′s new service with Firmware 3.0

BBC iPlayer: PS3′s new service with Firmware 3.0

By: Alan Ng | September 1, 2009 | 31 Comments

Playstation 3 owners will not only benefit from a list of new features when they upgrade to version 3.0 but will also now benefit from the brand new BBC iPlayer widget, released directly with Firmware Update 3.0.

As reported from PS Lifestyle, the BBC iPlayer was originally available via an ‘unofficial’ website, which wasn’t officially endorsed by the BBC. However, the iPlayer finally made its way to the PS3 from December 2008, then now just as announced at GamesCom 2009, the official iPlayer application widget is available on firmware 3.0.

Using the new widget, PS3 owners will be able to go directly to the BBC’s BigScreen Interface, where you’ll be able to start watching or listening to your favourite programmes.

To try the BBC iPlayer app, UK PS3 owners need to head to the TV icon which is located between Video and Games.

Let us know your impressions of the BBC iPlayer.

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  • chris

    Bit dissapointed.
    It’s just a link to the bigscreen version you get when you go to bbc.co.uk/iplayer in the browser on the ps3 anyway. I was thinking it would be larger, so it would take advantage of hd screens, and at least allow bbc hd streaming, and maybe even downloads. All it is is the Wii version.
    It does save clicking two extra buttons though.

  • ian

    also disappointed. No change from what we had before. No HD no downloads.

  • http://www.netinspired.com Phil

    It’s just a glorified bookmark! A complete let down since I’ve been using iPlayer through the browser for weeks.

    It would be great if it were possible to view programs in a dedicated application, suited for use with the remote control. So many times I’ve not been able to select a program because my cursor keeps jumping around it; therefore meaning I have to get up off my comfy seat to grab an analogue pad. And don’t even mention the effort it takes to pause and resume a program.

    Also, the PS3 and HD go hand-in-hand, so why not provide HD iPlayer downloads direct to the hard disc, ready for “buffering-less” viewing?

    TV networks are wanting to curb illegal downloading of TV episodes (which can themselves be played on the PS3), so why not provide a service to make it pointless in the first place?

  • D

    I thought the BBC iPlayer application would allow download. The firmware update doesn’t add any fuctionality….Disappointed!

  • mark

    a big let down from sony and the bbc, its just a bookmark, thought we was getting a app for the bbc iplayer cant see no HD programs im going to stick with the ps3iplayer.com as you can view hd programs from bbc iplayer, you cant on the ps3 tv, bbciplayer in the xmb on the ps3 , we need more updates to make other channels players for the ps3 flash on the ps3 could do with been upgraded to 10,,,, come on sony start giving us what we want, sick of your usless updates for the ps3……….

  • Faye

    I think the new way to launch it is a BRILLIANT idea. I hope that it is soon joined by 4OD, iTVPlayer and SkyPlayer (I understand that it’s not simple to do thanks to decisions to use silverlight)

    There still seem to be several dropped frames for me, is that due to lack of oomph in the flash player still? I guess that’s why they’re not offering HD as the problem would be exacerbated.

    Thanks to BT my broadband can’t sustain a full HD stream anyway. The government is perfectly happy with allowing not only digital backwaters like ours (on the border of the M25, not “rural” by any means) but letting BT charge MORE in these areas than in areas where they have competition.

    I don’t like the way that it dims the screen while you’re watching a programme as if it is idle. Obviously you want pages containing flash ads to dim if you leave the system for a while, but if you’re watching flash video, surely you want it to tell the PS3 that it’s in active use while you’re watching.

    Most of all I’d like it to play back full screen, rather than windowboxed.

  • andrewinstirling

    agree with other comments…also find that the TV programs very often dont start when u click on the bplay icon…its very hit and mss if it will worl at all …very frustrating!

  • rambo

    i didnt even get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Laity

    Well at least you guys actually have it, i downloaded 3.00 a few days ago and it hasnt come up with anything :/
    theres no tv icon or anything its the same as beforee >:(

  • Ian

    Has anyone else been unable to play any videos from the BBC iPlayer? Link appears under tv icon as expected and opens up the BigScreen Interface. However, after selecting a tv program to watch, the “Play” link in the top right hand corner has no effect. Starting up the browser and going to the BigScreen interface also fails. I had no problems using the player before the upgrade.

  • Mark McNally

    Well updated last nite and tried the iPlayer but alas it no longer works :-(

    However was pleasently surprised to see that video embedded in the BBC news site is now working :-D

    Just wish I could choose to shrink the XMB icons back to how they were as they are now too big and cannot get as much info on screen (try scrolling through you media server lists when you have thousands of items but can only see a handful at a time).

  • Mark in Edinburgh

    Also updated to 3.00 PS3 firmware last night.
    No TV icon appeared. iplayer page loads via Internet Search, but program names and many icons are now empty boxes with red crosses in.

    Clicking on play or resume doesn’t work, so no more iplayer on the PS3. Really disappointed, as I’d only started using iplayer a week ago and now I feel like I have a broken PS3.

  • Jamie

    For those of you who haven’t had the TV icon come up on your PS3, try putting in a game disc, then immediately quitting. Made mine appear for some reason!

  • Mike

    Still no iPlayer Icon for me! I have play tv but I’ve read others that hav eia And the Icon.
    I’ve tried all the “How to’s” out there and none have worked for me.
    I’m not too bothered I have HD iPlayer over cable but it’s a weird one!

  • Rogan Gunn

    I also had the problems mentioned where the “Click to Play” and “Resume” links didn’t work. I read that trying radio shows first sorts it, after a while mine sorted itself out.

    Initially it just linked to the “Bigscreen” interface on the iPlayer website, but they have improved the codec/flash playback so the resolution is higher at full screen and the frame rate is MUCH better. Looks like SD TV now rather than a webstream. As of today (4th Sept) there is a newer layout/interface on the website which looks like it was designed specially for PS3.

    So hopefully in the coming weeks they will keep adding to the site, so who knows, maybe we will eventually get the HD service! Sony needs to sort out its flash support though really…

    But hey it was totally free so I’m not complaining – an option to make the XMB smaller font again would be good though.

  • kev

    cheers for that m8 mine works now !!!!

  • John Patrick

    I had exactly the same problem. Sony say they are not aware of any defect, but they have promised to look into it and let me know !!!

  • Matt

    If it helps anyone – I downloaded vidzone from the playstation store then the IPlayer icon appeared :)

  • Morgan

    Same for me too.
    Launch 60GB PS3 – v3.0 firware installed.
    I have the new iplayer options. It allows me to fire up and browse the menus. 2 oddities though – once you get to an actual prog listing, the episodes are not shown – just little red crosses (like an image wont load). Bug the real biggy is that it wont actually play anything. Click on the ‘play’ and it just site there. Click again , and it still sits there.
    This is a great shame – but I have tried any number of resets etc and I know iplayer works through my router on PC.
    Guess my PS3 is just one of the funny ones.

  • Stuart

    If you don’t want the PS3 to dim during playback then switch off the PS3 screen saver, it’s also under PS3 iplayer tips link is located on the lower right of the iplayer screen.

    HTH

  • Stuart

    Shame it does not allow downloads like on the PC desktop iplayer, I can’t watch TV via iplayer on my PS3 as I’m too far from the exchange on copper cable and lucky if I get 1meg Broadband, so all I get is a stop start stop start and so on program via iplayer. I was able to buffer it all the way through before the update but don’t seem to be able to anymore.

    So come on SONY and BBC let us download to the PS3 and watch later, is it too much to ask????

  • Paul

    I too am having problems playing the BBC iPlayer on PS3, i get the iPlayer clearly on the Tv screen, I am able to play any program that say’s Guidance that is under the press button to play (my parental password is set to off)so that is no problem. It seems I am unable to watch programs that does not have Guidance under the press to play button, if i press the play button nothing happens, and i have to restart iPlayer as the iplayer screen freezers. Any clues out there why this maybe happening?

  • Dave Jones

    I too have the same problem

  • Al

    I have that problem too-if guidance box comes up then no problem
    otherwise won’t play

  • Gobble

    I get that as well- what's the deal?

  • dazer

    and me

  • tuppers

    no play button available !! help

  • Csaba

    I agree with the other comments, with xbox 360 you can watch sky player online, it is time to sony to make some changes,i wanna watch hd channels on my ps3 just like you guys,sony is too busy making new telly`s where they allredy prooved that they can make 3D telly,or internet telly,they should concentrate on ps3 as well and making something new,like watching hd channels online,or even watching 3D,or they gonna make a new PS4 with better futures and double price..

  • Stevey854

    You probably have a foreign model of the ps3 it is only available on uk ps3 systems

  • ken

    i have just had exactly the same problem! november 2010

  • Andyastonleeds

    Still buffers all the time