Sony PS3 accounts for 10 per cent of BBC iPlayer views

September 12th, 2009

Sony’s PlayStation 3 games console is the second most popular platform for watching shows on iPlayer, the BBC has revealed.

It means that the games console is now a more popular way of catching up with missed television shows than Apple Mac computers.

A recent PS3 firmware update added improved iPlayer functionality to the console, and bought with it an increase in users. Anthony Rose, head of future media and technology at the BBC, said that PlayStation 3 users accounted for 10 per cent of all iPlayer in the week after the firmware update. Mac users accounted for 8.5 per cent of views, while PC users accounted for around 70 per cent.

He described the picture quality of the PS3 iPlayer as “almost as good as broadcast television”, and said that the “amazing” user numbers showed a real desire for on-demand television services in the living room.

“We’ll have to wait and see whether this holds up in the coming weeks, but this enthusiastic reception makes it clear that users do want iPlayer on their TV,” said Rose. “That bodes well for Canvas and other IPTV propositions.”

Games consoles, set-top boxes and mobile devices are playing an increasingly important role, as broadcasters seek new ways to deliver on-demand content to viewers. The iPlayer is already available on a number of platforms, including the Nintendo Wii and Nokia phones, and other content providers are keeping a close eye on how these services perform.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Entry Filed under: Gaming, Sony