Upon reading a BBC article published today, it seems that British Telecom's planned IPTV service is much less attractive than we had hoped. It turns out that the service does not support live TV or digital video recorder (DVR) functionality, but will be entirely on-demand. In other words, 360 owners will have access to BT's programming library, but won't be flipping channels or recording their favorite shows to watch later. Looking through the CES press release again, the only advantage we can see over the standard set-top box service (which offers live TV and DVR) is that gamers can stay connected to Xbox Live while watching on-demand programming through their 360s, allowing them to send messages and receive game invites among other things. We're not sure that alone justifies a 12-month contract. Of course, if you're interested in nabbing a BT set-top box and you just happen to have a 360 as well, it makes some sense.Perhaps the most interesting quote in the BBC article is from a BT spokesman: "The reason for streaming only on the Xbox is because currently the console does not have the capability for live TV ...." Now, we know the 360 is capable of live TV, as it was demonstrated at last year's CES. Furthermore, all IPTV is streaming, which makes the quote a bit odd. As far as we know, the only thing keeping the 360 from streaming IPTV is a firmware update. For now, we'll give BT the benefit of the doubt and assume that's what the spokesperson was referring to. We've got a call in to Microsoft for clarification.
Update: After a helpful comment and some digging, we've figured out the basis for British Telecom's claim that the 360 couldn't support live TV. It turns out that BT's live TV offerings are all made over the air. In other words, live TV is received via an antenna, something the 360 currently can't do. The on-demand services, on the other hand, are offered through IPTV. Still, as the first official IPTV offering on the 360, it seems a bit lacking. (Thanks for the insight, mike.)
[Thanks, Scotty Turbo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-09-2008 @ 5:10PM
mike said...
Actually guys please do research first BTVision is based on two services in one box a 'freeview' box with PVR HDD (over the air aerial digital tv, available for free from a $40 box or $150 pvr box) and on demand services (the IPTV part)
When you subscribe to BTVision you get the box for both, so you will get a BTVision box as a
part of the service you can then use a 360 to access the ondemand services in a different room
By the all this is over broadband ADSL not cable which is where you are getting confused
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1-09-2008 @ 5:16PM
Project Ekim said...
O use media center extender to watch and record live TV
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1-09-2008 @ 5:25PM
NitroFrost said...
Stop working on the whole TV thing and WORK ON THE DAMN WEB BROWSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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1-09-2008 @ 5:26PM
NitroFrost said...
Wow not only is xboxlive hurting but this site just double posted me wierd??
1-09-2008 @ 5:26PM
NitroFrost said...
Stop working on the whole TV thing and WORK ON THE DAMN WEB BROWSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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1-09-2008 @ 7:17PM
useapc said...
Use a PC
1-10-2008 @ 7:18AM
NitroFrost said...
Use a tv
1-09-2008 @ 5:29PM
CharleyTony said...
This is stupid, all those features dont mean a thing since youcan watch shows ou download as divX files now .... I might even cancel my normal cable subscription...
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1-09-2008 @ 5:33PM
BananaBoat said...
Web browser is useless. There is a web browser on my wii and on my PS3, and I never use either of them. (That's not exactly true. I use the PS3 browser to download themes. That doesn't require any "Browsing" though).
I already have a DVR, so I'd much rather they spent more energy on busting cheaters, and on getting the mod support for Unreal Tournament 3
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1-09-2008 @ 5:58PM
Bravo6 said...
agreed
1-09-2008 @ 5:51PM
OBM said...
The reason I see for not streaming live TV, I suspect is TV licensing fees. This was the 1st problem I thought of when they announced the IPTV service for UK. We pay licensing fees for public sector channels(i.e BBC which you got your info from), every time you buy a TV they make sure you pay the fee.
So I'm thinking to avoid all the hassle of having to sign up for a TV license fee every time someone buys an xbox 360, they opted for the 'on-demand' service just.
Also a contributing factor, I would say, is that in the UK (and I think all UK people on here will agree), we get raped by ISPs and funnily enough, who owns most of the telephone lines? Yes, BT. So, with bullshit fair usage policies (FUP) in place everywhere, I'm sure they just wanted to look after their precious land lines and screw over the end users once again.
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1-09-2008 @ 6:38PM
jcarpio said...
to the person that asked for a web browser on the 360.. you do we'd be getting a version of internet explorer if it were to happen.
Do you really want IE infecting your box?
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1-09-2008 @ 7:01PM
john paul said...
Lol well said
firefox maybe?
ok that will never happen
1-09-2008 @ 6:59PM
todd said...
So bring it to ATT Uverse instead. I'm waiting.
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1-09-2008 @ 8:38PM
iRoy said...
BT is banned by law from carrying "live tv" this is their second attempt at the market after throwing away tons of cash at an earlier attempt with Oracle.
Meanwhile here in the UK Virginmedia (was Telewest and NTL) cable companies can rent a "V+" box and record off the BBC HD channel, and stream HD content off their servers. Sky offer similar systems for their sat tv customers, with more HD channels but no streams to my knowledge.
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1-09-2008 @ 9:42PM
Sacredleader said...
Well, Channel 10 had a video http://on10.net/blogs/tina/You-heard-it-People-Carbon-is-real/Default.aspx of a demo last year of what the IPTV experience should be like once it hits. BT may not support every function of what was spec'd out for the 360, so we may have to what until something like FIOS is usable for this instead to see what it's supposed to be.
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1-09-2008 @ 11:02PM
Grant said...
OTA only broadcasting?
what is this? the 1960s?
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1-10-2008 @ 2:44AM
Jez said...
They should of used Virgin media then would of have live tv but only for people who use a cable internet connection. At a time i thought MS was going with Virgin media when i got halo 3 because there was a little card in the saying "got halo 3 now join Virgin Media, get superfast broadband at half price etc" Normaly that would be BT but oh well
Just thought i add my view on this
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1-10-2008 @ 5:02AM
Boff said...
Usual story - they promise the earth and it turns out to be a bucket of shit.
I agree with other posters, MS should've gone with Virgin or even Sky for the TV side of things...
WTF do BT know about delivering TV content, over-the- air or otherwise?
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1-10-2008 @ 8:57AM
Kane said...
Sooo, you can't flip channels or record shows to watch later, but you can watch any of the shows anytime you want on-demand?
Where is the downside again?
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