MUMBAI: BBC has launched Live Restart, which enables audiences to rewind and restart live TV on BBC iPlayer without waiting for the programme to end.
The aim of Live Restart is to ensure that audiences never miss a moment of their favourite BBC TV programmes on their PC. With one click, viewers can either restart the live programme they are currently watching, or scroll back to watch programmes from the previous two hours.
A first in the UK, this new feature builds on BBC iPlayer’s strategy of moving beyond catch-up and make watching live content even better online. With live requests making up over 22 per cent of total BBC iPlayer requests on the PC in April 2012, an increase of 18 per cent on April 2011, the BBC is seeing significant growth in demand for live content on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer head Dave Price said, “We all know how frustrating it is when you’re stuck in a traffic jam, or delayed on the tube, missing the critical start of your favourite BBC programme. Live Restart solves this by giving audiences control. With one simple click of a button viewers can skip back to the beginning of a live programme, ensuring they never miss a moment of their favourite BBC programmes.”
Later this year, the BBC will bring Live Restart to BBC iPlayer on mobiles, tablets and internet connected TVs, making it even better to watch live TV programmes online on the devices audiences use, when and where they want to.
Launched on December 2007 as a simple catch-up website, BBC iPlayer has helped push TV on demand by offering audiences the opportunity to watch selected TV programmes for up to seven days after broadcast. BBC iPlayer has since evolved, adding more TV programmes; including entire series and films, radio programmes, live TV channels & radio station, programme downloads for offline viewing and personalisation features such as Favourites and recommendations.
Variants of BBC iPlayer optimised for over 500 mobiles, tablets and connected TVs are also available, allowing audiences to catch-up or watch live wherever they are and on whatever device – offering access on the move over 3G and WiFi , or simple & convenient access via broadband on the living room TV.
