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[B][U]itv.com TV Online[/U][/B]Recently, itv.com began offering their television broadcasts online, in the form of web streaming and catch-up downloading.
I first came across the service when trying to find out when the new series of Doc Martin was going to be screened, and found that I could watch the whole first series, for free, as well as other ITV programmes, so decided to have a little pock around.
The concept of streaming online isn’t new, but as far as I’m aware, ITV are the first of the major UK broadcasters to place four of their big channels online on a continuous bases. They’ve also made it easy to use, having embedded the service within their web site, allowing you to watch from the off, subscription-free, if you’ve got the required software installed.
Windows / Internet Explorer only!
It probably comes as no surprise to some that the service currently only works with Windows and within Internet Explorer, though Firefox users can use the IE Tab extension. You’ll also need at least Windows Media Player 9 and Flash version 8. If you’re unsure, ITV offer a diagnostic page to help you out.
I expect this is down to the DRM feature built-in to Windows Media Player, perhaps similar to the reason the BBC iPlayer is currently only available for Windows XP, but unlike the BBC iPlayer, which is it’s own application, the software required for the ITV Video Player is pretty common for Windows users who go online, so will unlikely require any additional downloading and installing. As one such user, I was able to begin watching ITV content right away, though depending on your security settings, you may have to go through a couple of “allow” or “are you sure?” messages within Internet Explorer.
Live TV, channel range!
Currently it seems that you can only view ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3 and ITV 4, while CITV appears to be unavailable to view. The live streams appear to be direct simulcasts of the designated channel, but are generally shown with a 20-40 second time delay. You have no control over how the video is streamed, and only have the play / stop buttons at your disposal. If you stop the video, and press play later, it’ll start from wherever the feed is, rather than continue from the point you stopped it at, so you won’t get any PVR or Sky+ like control.
You may also find at times that programmes which are currently being screened on one channel is blocked from the online version, in place finding a message stating that “the current programme is not available”, and suggesting that you try another channel, or view their catch-up library. Sky viewers (or other digital satellite receivers) may have already seen similar notices on ITV’s time shift channels.
I can only assume this is a rights issue, as there seems to be no technical limitation, but it is a shame if the programme you were wanting to watch falls in this category, and also undermines the service some-what.
Oddly, the ITV4 stream has a message that reads “Programming starts at 6pm”, despite the fact that there are programmes being broadcast way before that time, on Sky at least.
Catch-up, clips and previews!
The other section of the service is the ability to download programmes you may have missed, small clips from the programmes, or previews of things to come. This was the service I used to watch Doc Martin series one.
These types of video generally have a little more control handed to you, as the service is more about downloading the content as opposed to streaming it. You’re able to pause the video, and continue it from that point.
These can also include commercial breaks, usually in the same place as the original broadcast, though the adverts are much shorter, showing just one in most cases. As the service is relatively new, it seems either there is a short list of available advertisers, or those same advertisers prefer to place their ads within the same range of programming. After watching some of the Doc Martin downloads, I’ve got this strange feeling that all I want for Christmas is a sofa, from DFS - they have a half price winter collection, don’t you know!
If you’re a fan of Coronation Street or Emmerdale, then you’ll find quite a lot of content centred around these two shows, with over a weeks worth ahead of previews, as well as episode catch-up’s, 30 days worth, and weekly round-ups. It also seems like ITV have tried to offer a web feed related to each show as well, aimed at informing users when new previews and catch-ups are available, though it doesn’t seem to actually work.
Other such programmes offer similar features, such as Heartbeat, that Celebrity programme, X-factor, and of course, Doc Martin. All 7 episodes of the most recent series are currently available for viewing, even though some fall out of the 30 day catch-up time, so they may be permanent. Series one is still there also, but no series two, so a tad inconsistent.
Detachable to Windows Media Player!
You can detach the player from within Internet Explorer and have the video feed open up directly in Windows Media Player, which can give you more control when viewing catch-up content. When detaching the player for live broadcasts, you’re still only able to control the stream by stopping and starting it.
When viewing catch-up, previews or clips, the video is downloaded, rather than streamed, so you’re given the ability to pause, rewind, fast forward, or even speed up through each section of the programme you’re watching once the download has completed, which is indicated on the Media Player task bar. As the breaks are separate sections, ITV restrict it so that you can’t skip through the ads, which isn’t really a surprise.
It can also benefit users who have larger screens, or more than one monitor connected to your computer, as you can detach the player and move it out of the way of the web browser, and continue to use the web while watching.
Unfortunately when detaching the player, you lose the ability to change channel quickly, and have to close Windows Media player, select your chosen channel within Internet Explorer, and re-open Media Player again, through this isn’t really much of a problem if you’re tuning in to or downloading a specific programme, it would be nice to be able to quickly change the channel. Windows Media Player also doesn’t appear to have any sort of programme guide, which would have made the detachable feature more useful.
Picture and sound quality!
For an online streaming and download service, the picture and sound quality is pretty good, certainly acceptable to me, though some people may not agree. When watching a live stream, I haven’t had any jumping or freezing, as is often seen when streaming TV, and downloading a catch-up episode begins very quickly, almost instantly in some cases. In both cases, you can select to view in full screen, and the sound has been as good as I hear on the telly, though again, this may depend on the speaker quality of people’s PCs.
Overall rating!
Overall, I’d give the itv.com TV service a 9 / 10, or 95%, because it’s a basic idea that allows people to view programmes when it’s convenient to them, or when they’ve been away, or simply forgotten, as well as allowing access to a range of programmes which aren’t available on TV. It’s also legal, and free - you may not even need a TV licence for the catch-up service, though I'm sure you do for the live streaming.
It’s a shame that its currently only available for Windows users, and that at times the live broadcast isn’t able to be streamed online for whatever reason, but all in all, a great service.
One last point, if you’re on a broadband package with a low usage cap, be sure to keep an eye on how much you watch.
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[B][U]itv.com TV Online[/U][/B]Recently, itv.com began offering their television broadcasts online, in the form of web streaming and catch-up downloading.
I first came across the service when trying to find out when the new series of Doc Martin was going to be screened, and found that I could watch the whole first series, for free, as well as other ITV programmes, so decided to have a little pock around.
The concept of streaming online isn’t new, but as far as I’m aware, ITV are the first of the major UK broadcasters to place four of their big channels online on a continuous bases. They’ve also made it easy to use, having embedded the service within their web site, allowing you to watch from the off, subscription-free, if you’ve got the required software installed.
Windows / Internet Explorer only!
It probably comes as no surprise to some that the service currently only works with Windows and within Internet Explorer, though Firefox users can use the IE Tab extension. You’ll also need at least Windows Media Player 9 and Flash version 8. If you’re unsure, ITV offer a diagnostic page to help you out.
I expect this is down to the DRM feature built-in to Windows Media Player, perhaps similar to the reason the BBC iPlayer is currently only available for Windows XP, but unlike the BBC iPlayer, which is it’s own application, the software required for the ITV Video Player is pretty common for Windows users who go online, so will unlikely require any additional downloading and installing. As one such user, I was able to begin watching ITV content right away, though depending on your security settings, you may have to go through a couple of “allow” or “are you sure?” messages within Internet Explorer.
Live TV, channel range!
Currently it seems that you can only view ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3 and ITV 4, while CITV appears to be unavailable to view. The live streams appear to be direct simulcasts of the designated channel, but are generally shown with a 20-40 second time delay. You have no control over how the video is streamed, and only have the play / stop buttons at your disposal. If you stop the video, and press play later, it’ll start from wherever the feed is, rather than continue from the point you stopped it at, so you won’t get any PVR or Sky+ like control.
You may also find at times that programmes which are currently being screened on one channel is blocked from the online version, in place finding a message stating that “the current programme is not available”, and suggesting that you try another channel, or view their catch-up library. Sky viewers (or other digital satellite receivers) may have already seen similar notices on ITV’s time shift channels.
I can only assume this is a rights issue, as there seems to be no technical limitation, but it is a shame if the programme you were wanting to watch falls in this category, and also undermines the service some-what.
Oddly, the ITV4 stream has a message that reads “Programming starts at 6pm”, despite the fact that there are programmes being broadcast way before that time, on Sky at least.
Catch-up, clips and previews!
The other section of the service is the ability to download programmes you may have missed, small clips from the programmes, or previews of things to come. This was the service I used to watch Doc Martin series one.
These types of video generally have a little more control handed to you, as the service is more about downloading the content as opposed to streaming it. You’re able to pause the video, and continue it from that point.
These can also include commercial breaks, usually in the same place as the original broadcast, though the adverts are much shorter, showing just one in most cases. As the service is relatively new, it seems either there is a short list of available advertisers, or those same advertisers prefer to place their ads within the same range of programming. After watching some of the Doc Martin downloads, I’ve got this strange feeling that all I want for Christmas is a sofa, from DFS - they have a half price winter collection, don’t you know!
If you’re a fan of Coronation Street or Emmerdale, then you’ll find quite a lot of content centred around these two shows, with over a weeks worth ahead of previews, as well as episode catch-up’s, 30 days worth, and weekly round-ups. It also seems like ITV have tried to offer a web feed related to each show as well, aimed at informing users when new previews and catch-ups are available, though it doesn’t seem to actually work.
Other such programmes offer similar features, such as Heartbeat, that Celebrity programme, X-factor, and of course, Doc Martin. All 7 episodes of the most recent series are currently available for viewing, even though some fall out of the 30 day catch-up time, so they may be permanent. Series one is still there also, but no series two, so a tad inconsistent.
Detachable to Windows Media Player!
You can detach the player from within Internet Explorer and have the video feed open up directly in Windows Media Player, which can give you more control when viewing catch-up content. When detaching the player for live broadcasts, you’re still only able to control the stream by stopping and starting it.
When viewing catch-up, previews or clips, the video is downloaded, rather than streamed, so you’re given the ability to pause, rewind, fast forward, or even speed up through each section of the programme you’re watching once the download has completed, which is indicated on the Media Player task bar. As the breaks are separate sections, ITV restrict it so that you can’t skip through the ads, which isn’t really a surprise.
It can also benefit users who have larger screens, or more than one monitor connected to your computer, as you can detach the player and move it out of the way of the web browser, and continue to use the web while watching.
Unfortunately when detaching the player, you lose the ability to change channel quickly, and have to close Windows Media player, select your chosen channel within Internet Explorer, and re-open Media Player again, through this isn’t really much of a problem if you’re tuning in to or downloading a specific programme, it would be nice to be able to quickly change the channel. Windows Media Player also doesn’t appear to have any sort of programme guide, which would have made the detachable feature more useful.
Picture and sound quality!
For an online streaming and download service, the picture and sound quality is pretty good, certainly acceptable to me, though some people may not agree. When watching a live stream, I haven’t had any jumping or freezing, as is often seen when streaming TV, and downloading a catch-up episode begins very quickly, almost instantly in some cases. In both cases, you can select to view in full screen, and the sound has been as good as I hear on the telly, though again, this may depend on the speaker quality of people’s PCs.
Overall rating!
Overall, I’d give the itv.com TV service a 9 / 10, or 95%, because it’s a basic idea that allows people to view programmes when it’s convenient to them, or when they’ve been away, or simply forgotten, as well as allowing access to a range of programmes which aren’t available on TV. It’s also legal, and free - you may not even need a TV licence for the catch-up service, though I'm sure you do for the live streaming.
It’s a shame that its currently only available for Windows users, and that at times the live broadcast isn’t able to be streamed online for whatever reason, but all in all, a great service.
One last point, if you’re on a broadband package with a low usage cap, be sure to keep an eye on how much you watch.