ITV Player
Encyclopedia
ITV Player is an online video on demand service accessible though the main ITV website. The service offers a variety of programmes from homegrown programming to imports across ITV1
, ITV2
, ITV3
, ITV4
and CITV
. Some sports programming is available to watch again via the service, the 2010 FIFA World Cup
and highlights being examples. Some programmes, imports and movies are not currently available due to rights issues, and most children's programming in particular is generally unavailable. Programmes are available for 30 days on the site after being first shown on ITV. The service was originally called ITV Catch Up but was then rebranded 'ITV Player' on 5 December 2008 as part of ITV’s aim to create a recognisable and consistent brand for video-on-demand content across the web and TV. ITV Player is also branded as ITV Net Player and referred to as the ITV Network Player in branding and communication around programming intended for consumption across the UK, such as on Virgin Media.
as opposed to Flash (used by BBC iPlayer
and Channel 4's 30 day catch-up service) and Windows Media Video
. ITV adopted Adobe Flash
for its player on 15 September 2009. In November 2009 the website was revamped again improving navigation as well as making the site more visually appealing. The service is free to use funded by pre, mid and post roll adverts. Previously users have been able to use ad-blocking software to skip the adverts shown. During Summer 2010, the ITV website was upgraded to detect ad-blocking software. Video is sent at multiple bit rates and uses adaptive technology in the player to best determine rate based on users connection.
Improvements were made in June/July 2011 to the website version to incorporate subtitles and CITV
programming. The website version relaunched with a cleaner, less cluttered new look on Monday 22 August 2011. The new look seamlessly fits in with the redesigned itv.com
and has upgraded search features, images and a new flash video player designed to make playback more reliable. In January 2012, the site will be overhauled to offer paid-for content in addition to the existing free 30 day catch up.
's TV Replay service, the deal was ITV's first with a set-top-box VOD operator. It allows access to popular ITV1
, ITV2
, ITV3
and ITV4
shows up to 8 days after their transmission as well as a selection of archive shows.
viewers in 2011 on channel 903, which currently displays "Arriving soon in 2011." A beta release was made available in December 2010 for Humax
receivers, requiring the input of a code. The beta was made public on 26 July 2011, with support expected to be extended beyond Humax devices over the coming months.
digital cable TV service. The deal allows Virgin Media’s 3.5 million TV customers to view over 40 hours of programming from ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 each week. Popular shows such as Coronation Street
and Emmerdale
are all available for seven days after being broadcast as part of Virgin Media's free Catch up TV service. Virgin Media’s viewers are able to choose from 500 hours of award-winning ITV comedies, documentaries and dramas, on demand through the TV Choice section. The service began a three day deployment programme on 24 February 2009.
via the PlayStation Network. ITV Player on PS3 is free and ad-funded with pre-, mid- and post- roll video ads being sold and served by ITV. Under the terms of the deal with Sony, STV, UTV
and Channel Television
will be able to add their own equivalent services so they are also accessible from the PS3 platform on a similar basis to ITV Player.
connection is also required. The mobile apps were developed by digital agency Candyspace.
's Android operating system was released on 20 June 2011. The app requires Android 2.2 (Froyo) or higher and Adobe AIR
. Each show is broken up to feature non-skippable advert breaks. Users are forced to register an email address to use the app in order to allow ITV to “keep you informed about improvements and other exciting developments at ITV.” ITV is also planning on releasing an app that's optimised for Android 3.x (Honeycomb) tablets.
(1st generation or later), iPhone
(3GS
or later) and iPod Touch
(3rd generation or later), was launched on 1 July 2011.
and SeeSaw
like Channel 4
or Channel 5. Although some ITV programmes can been seen on such services, this is where these services have negotiated rights with the production companies involved and not ITV. The beta launch of the Virgin Media Player saw ITV programmes become available but Virgin Media have licensed ITV's archive (a separate service also available on ITV.com under the TV shows section) which is not currently part of the ITV Player.
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
, ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
, ITV3
ITV3
ITV3 is an entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom that is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. The channel was launched on 1 November 2004. ITV3 is the second largest UK multi-channel, second only to ITV2.-History:...
, ITV4
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
and CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
. Some sports programming is available to watch again via the service, the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and highlights being examples. Some programmes, imports and movies are not currently available due to rights issues, and most children's programming in particular is generally unavailable. Programmes are available for 30 days on the site after being first shown on ITV. The service was originally called ITV Catch Up but was then rebranded 'ITV Player' on 5 December 2008 as part of ITV’s aim to create a recognisable and consistent brand for video-on-demand content across the web and TV. ITV Player is also branded as ITV Net Player and referred to as the ITV Network Player in branding and communication around programming intended for consumption across the UK, such as on Virgin Media.
Web platforms
The service started out as a website before being extended to television and other platforms. Initially the website version used Microsoft SilverlightMicrosoft Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight is an application framework for writing and running rich Internet applications, with features and purposes similar to those of Adobe Flash. The run-time environment for Silverlight is available as a plug-in for web browsers running under Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X...
as opposed to Flash (used by BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer, commonly shortened to iPlayer, is an internet television and radio service, developed by the BBC to extend its former RealPlayer-based and other streamed video clip content to include whole TV shows....
and Channel 4's 30 day catch-up service) and Windows Media Video
Windows Media Video
'Windows Media Video is a video compression format for several proprietary codecs developed by Microsoft. The original video format, known as WMV, was originally designed for Internet streaming applications, as a competitor to RealVideo. The other formats, such as WMV Screen and WMV Image, cater...
. ITV adopted Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
for its player on 15 September 2009. In November 2009 the website was revamped again improving navigation as well as making the site more visually appealing. The service is free to use funded by pre, mid and post roll adverts. Previously users have been able to use ad-blocking software to skip the adverts shown. During Summer 2010, the ITV website was upgraded to detect ad-blocking software. Video is sent at multiple bit rates and uses adaptive technology in the player to best determine rate based on users connection.
Improvements were made in June/July 2011 to the website version to incorporate subtitles and CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
programming. The website version relaunched with a cleaner, less cluttered new look on Monday 22 August 2011. The new look seamlessly fits in with the redesigned itv.com
Itv.com
itv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 11 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers on-line streaming, ITV archive, news, sport, entertainment, games, soaps, lifestyle, drama and an interactive TV...
and has upgraded search features, images and a new flash video player designed to make playback more reliable. In January 2012, the site will be overhauled to offer paid-for content in addition to the existing free 30 day catch up.
BT Vision
In December 2008, ITV Player was added to BT VisionBT Vision
BT Vision is a hybrid IPTV-digital terrestrial television service provided by BT Group in the United Kingdom which was launched in December 2006...
's TV Replay service, the deal was ITV's first with a set-top-box VOD operator. It allows access to popular ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
, ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
, ITV3
ITV3
ITV3 is an entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom that is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. The channel was launched on 1 November 2004. ITV3 is the second largest UK multi-channel, second only to ITV2.-History:...
and ITV4
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
shows up to 8 days after their transmission as well as a selection of archive shows.
Freesat
A full version of ITV Player will become available to FreesatFreesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
viewers in 2011 on channel 903, which currently displays "Arriving soon in 2011." A beta release was made available in December 2010 for Humax
Humax
Humax is an electronics company. Founded in South Korea in 1989, it manufactures set-top boxes, digital video recorders and other consumer electronics. It is publicly traded on KOSDAQ....
receivers, requiring the input of a code. The beta was made public on 26 July 2011, with support expected to be extended beyond Humax devices over the coming months.
Virgin Media
On 8 January 2009, it was announced that ITV Net Player would be added to Virgin Media'sVirgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
digital cable TV service. The deal allows Virgin Media’s 3.5 million TV customers to view over 40 hours of programming from ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 each week. Popular shows such as Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
and Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
are all available for seven days after being broadcast as part of Virgin Media's free Catch up TV service. Virgin Media’s viewers are able to choose from 500 hours of award-winning ITV comedies, documentaries and dramas, on demand through the TV Choice section. The service began a three day deployment programme on 24 February 2009.
PlayStation 3
ITV Player was released on 14 December 2010 on PlayStation 3PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
via the PlayStation Network. ITV Player on PS3 is free and ad-funded with pre-, mid- and post- roll video ads being sold and served by ITV. Under the terms of the deal with Sony, STV, UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
and Channel Television
Channel Television
Channel Television is a British television station which has served as an Independent Television contractor to the Channel Islands since 1962. It is based in Jersey...
will be able to add their own equivalent services so they are also accessible from the PS3 platform on a similar basis to ITV Player.
Mobile platforms
On 11 May 2011, ITV chief executive Adam Crozier announced that a dedicated ITV Player application would be released on a "wide range of mobiles and tablets" during 2011. The app features programming from ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 for up to seven days after broadcast. However content is only available to view in the UK and ITV1 programming is blocked outside of its licensed areas (England, Wales and the Scottish Borders). A Wi-FiWi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
connection is also required. The mobile apps were developed by digital agency Candyspace.
Android devices
An application for devices running GoogleGoogle
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
's Android operating system was released on 20 June 2011. The app requires Android 2.2 (Froyo) or higher and Adobe AIR
Adobe Integrated Runtime
Adobe Integrated Runtime, also known as Adobe AIR, is a cross-platform runtime environment developed by Adobe Systems for building Rich Internet Applications using Adobe Flash, Adobe Flex, HTML, and Ajax, that can be run as desktop applications or on mobile devices...
. Each show is broken up to feature non-skippable advert breaks. Users are forced to register an email address to use the app in order to allow ITV to “keep you informed about improvements and other exciting developments at ITV.” ITV is also planning on releasing an app that's optimised for Android 3.x (Honeycomb) tablets.
iOS devices
An application for Apple's iOS (iOS 4.3 or later) operating system and either the iPadIPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
(1st generation or later), iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
(3GS
IPhone 3GS
-Camera:The iPhone 3GS features an improved 3 megapixel camera manufactured by OmniVision. In addition to the higher megapixel count, it also features auto-focus, auto white balance and auto macro and is capable of capturing VGA video...
or later) and iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
(3rd generation or later), was launched on 1 July 2011.
Syndication
ITV do not syndicate its content to other providers such as YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and SeeSaw
SeeSaw (Internet television)
SeeSaw was an Internet television service, born out of the BBC-led Project Kangaroo and launched in the UK on 17 February 2010. It was acquired by the Criterion Media Group in July 2011 but the agreed investment never materialised. The service was shut down on 28 October 2011...
like Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
or Channel 5. Although some ITV programmes can been seen on such services, this is where these services have negotiated rights with the production companies involved and not ITV. The beta launch of the Virgin Media Player saw ITV programmes become available but Virgin Media have licensed ITV's archive (a separate service also available on ITV.com under the TV shows section) which is not currently part of the ITV Player.