BBC to Offer Video Downloads for Mac. Apple TV Considered.

BBC's Mark Thompson responds to some criticisms about their Windows-only support for their iPlayer service, which allows users to stream and download videos to their computer. While Mac and other platforms have been able to stream shows, downloads have not been available.

Thompson explains that this is due to rights management issues and working with their limited resources. That being said, the BBC is planning on launching a download version of BBC iPlayer for Mac in 2008.

Another interesting possibility was previously raised in the same blog by BBC's Ashley Highfield, who felt Apple's refresh of the Apple TV along with rental model could introduce BBC programming direct to your TV.

..we can look to getting BBC iPlayer onto [the Apple TV] too, as we should be able to use the rental functionality to allow our programmes to be downloaded, free, but retained for a time window, and then erased, as our rightsholders currently insist.

On January 30th, Apple announced that the new Apple TV software has been delayed and will not be available for "another week or two".