Zudeo, the video store from the makers of BitTorrent client Azureus, has just announced a deal to distribute select programming from the BBC.
Programming includes Red Dwarf, Strange, Invasion Earth, Little Britain, Doctor Who, Fawlty Towers, Coupling, Keeping Up Appearances, League of Gentlemen and Ideal (my favorites in bold).
Mike Arrington on Techcrunch points out that many more BBC titles available on Zudeo’s older brother Azureus, albeit illegally.
So here’s what I don’t get… When I left the BBC they were working on an IPTV project called MyBBCPlayer (that’s been public information for 18 months).
I’ve had no official contact with the BBC since I left in June, so I have no idea what’s going on, but I can only assume that the project has massively fallen behind and thus they are exploring other IPTV-like distribution options. Perhaps this is also a fact-finding mission to gain intel to put back into the MyBBCProject?
I’m not surprised the BBC has gotten into bed with a P2P company (albeit the ‘legitimate arm’ of one), as the BBC doesn’t have the same commercial pressures other media companies face. However I still find it very curious they have gone with a relative unknown company. This is as much a coup for Zudeo as it is the BBC.
The BBC/Zudeo deal will only be available for American users, so I’ll do a review of the service when it becomes available.
Ben – the clue is in the fact that its for US users only – this is a BBC Worldwide deal, not public service BBC…
Matt – but the MyBBCPlayer had a significant international revenue-generating aspect…?
My understanding Ben is that the BBC iPlayer is a public service one for inside the UK.
Then again my understanding may be completely flawed! But the key point about the deal above is that it is for the US. And I suspect there will be many more deals like this in the US and elsewhere.
Possibly the iPlayer isn’t moving fast enough for Worldwide, or maybe they just want to hedge their bets and ensure at least one project comes their way.
This is important stuff after all, unless you secure distribution you won’t get eyeballs, it wouldn’t surprise me if Worldwide sought at least one P2P deal.