BBC iPlayer is now available on Xbox 360. The popular catch-up service can now be accessed from your 360 by going to Xbox LIVE. The latest string to the Xbox 360’s on-demand bow joins Sky, Channel 4, Channel 5, Netflix, Lovefilm, Blinkbox and YouTube.
BBC iPlayer will let you watch programmes from all of the BBC’s TV and radio channels from your Xbox. What’s more is that those with Kinect will be able to search for programmes using gestures and voice recognition.
Given our recent Mass Effect 3 experiences vis-a-vis voice controls, we’re anticipating that voice searches for Strictly Come Dancing may be as fluid as John Sergeant’s footwork; hopefully with time it’ll be more Anton Du Beke.
As Daniel Danker, BBC General Manager, Programmes and On-Demand says, it’s early days: “As we continue our work to make BBC iPlayer as simple as possible, we’re also excited to experiment with natural user interfaces made possible with Kinect, including voice and gesture control. We believe it’s early days for these experiences, but see a great future working with partners such as Microsoft on innovations like these.”
BBC iPlayer on Xbox 360: Master Chief meets MasterChef
Stephen McGill, Director of Xbox and Entertainment for Microsoft, said: “The way people interact with entertainment content is changing. Xbox LIVE is the only service in the world where you can search, discover and control TV, movies, video and music using voice and gesture via the power and magic of Kinect.”
“We are delighted that BBC iPlayer is now available on Xbox LIVE. Xbox 360 was the best-selling console in the UK and globally last year, while Xbox LIVE is one of the UK’s leading comprehensive VOD entertainment services on TVs. The addition of BBC iPlayer takes the service to the next level.”
The iPlayer is now available on over 450 platforms, including every current gen games console; Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 owners have been able to access the iPlayer through their consoles for a while now.
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