Posted: 11th Nov, 2010 By: MarkJ

BT Retail's broadband based IPTV service (
BT Vision), which combines terrestrial UK Freeview TV channels with
Video-on-Demand (VoD) content delivered via its ISP, will soon be able to show content directly from the full BBC iPlayer video streaming service.
BT Vision will introduce BBC iPlayer over the
next 5 months, in a phased release
starting in early December 2010. All customers should be able to access the service by April 2011. Once complete, the service can be accessed by selecting BBC iPlayer from BT Vision’s programme menu.
Marc Watson, BT's CEO of Television and Online services, said:
"We are really excited to be partnering with the BBC to bring the BBC iPlayer service to BT Vision customers. The launch of BBC iPlayer on BT Vision adds to the vast range of quality entertainment already available to our customers."
Not to be outdone, Virgin Media has also announced a multiscreen deal with
Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd to bring programming from all of
FIVE’s linear TV channels to its TV, online and mobile VoD platforms from
November 2010. Virgin already has a deal with the BBC iPlayer service in place.
The addition of
Demand Five to its
TV On Demand service will come at no extra cost to customers. This apparently makes Virgin Media the only TV provider to offer catch-up services from all four main terrestrial broadcasters, with some shows also available in HD.
UPDATE 2:46pmAccording to BT - BBC iPlayer on BT Vision will be delivered automatically as a service upgrade over customers’ internet connections, replacing the existing BBC TV replay package currently available. All BT Vision customers will be able to enjoy the selected 50 hours of BBC programmes available within TV Replay for free.