Microsoft, BBC disagree over BBC iPlayer on Xbox Live

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Are you hotly anticipating the release of the BBC iPlayer on the Xbox 360? Well, your now going to be waiting ‘indefinitely’ as the BBC and Microsoft have reached an impasse over the iPlayer. The disagreement stems from Microsoft wanting to restrict the service to Xbox Live subscribers only.

A source within the BBC’s Future Media division talked to The Daily Telegraph and leaked information on the disagreement. Both sides are coming from different directions, as Microsoft wants to promote the usefulness of a Gold Membership, but the BBC wants to give as many people access to the iPlayer as possible.

“Microsoft only wants to offer its users access to platforms it can charge for as this is the model it is pursuing. It wants to ensure that only those paying for Xbox Live Gold accounts can access its additional content services and even then there is usually a charge on top to get access to those. [...] This does not fit with the BBC’s model and Microsoft will not budge at the moment. It is really frustrating for those involved on the BBC side. [...]” The BBC source told the Daily Telegraph.

The BBC is legally unable to charge British citizens for the iPlayer, due to that TV license that British citizens must pay per television set in their home. The proceeds of that license go to the BBC. A BBC channel already exists on the Playstation 3 and Wii. Microsoft declined to comment about the situation to the Daily Telegraph.