ITV Hub

ITV Hub
Developer(s) ITV plc
Initial release 5 December 2008
Stable release
23 November 2015
Operating system Windows, Macintosh, Linux
Platform Online, cable, IPTV, PlayStation 3, mobile
Available in English
Type Video on demand
Website itv.com

The ITV Hub (formerly ITV Player) is an online video on demand service accessible though the main ITV website itv.com. The service offers a variety of programmes from homegrown programming to imports across ITV, ITV2, ITVBe, 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 until the latest version, most children's programming in particular was 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.[1] ITV Player was 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,[1] before adopting the current name.

As of February 2013, the service has over 1 million registered users.[2]

ITV Hub requires its users to watch advertisements both before and during the programme (the program itself can be fast forwarded but the advertisements cannot).

On 23 November 2015, ITV gave the app and website a revamp, it was renamed 'ITV Hub' and was given a new look and logo.

ITV Player logo used until 2013.
ITV Player logo used until 2015.

Web platforms

The service started out as a website before being extended to television and other platforms. Initially the website version used Microsoft Silverlight as opposed to Adobe Flash (used by BBC iPlayer and Channel 4's 4oD) and Windows Media Video. ITV adopted Flash for its player on 15 September 2009.[3] 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 was due to be overhauled to offer paid-for content in addition to the existing free 30-day catch up,[4] however this was delayed until 29 October 2012.[5]

Content that has only aired on ITV (rather than also on ITV2, 3, 4, or CITV) is only available to viewers located in ITV plc regions (in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, southern Scotland, and on UTV in Northern Ireland). If the same programme was also broadcast in central and northern Scotland, then users located in those areas may be able to view it on the catch up service of STV. The ITV Hub website will attempt to detect your location automatically, using that provided by your ISP. On 6 June 2016, ITV Hub replaced the UTV Player service in Northern Ireland, following the latter's sale to ITV plc in February 2016.

Television platforms

Sony Bravia

As of September 2015, ITV Player is not available on Sony Bravia TVs.

BT Vision

In December 2008, ITV Player was added to BT Vision's TV Replay service, the deal was ITV's first with a set-top-box VOD operator.[6] It allows access to popular ITV, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 shows up to 8 days after their transmission as well as a selection of archive shows.[7]

Freesat

ITV Player Beta as displayed by Freesat

A place for a full version of ITV Player has been reserved on Freesat channel 903.[8] A beta release was made available in December 2010 for Humax receivers, requiring the input of a code.[9] The beta was made public on 26 July 2011, with support expected to be extended beyond Humax devices.[10][11] On 31 July 2012, an update was released for Manhattan receivers which included support for ITV Player.[12] In November 2012, both EchoStar and Samsung receivers also received ITV Player support.[13][14]

Now TV / Roku

On 29 January 2014, ITV announced it would make ITV Player available on Sky's Now TV box.[15] It was later made available on the NowTV & Roku devices on 11 June 2014.[16]

Sky

On 30 January 2012, it was announced that ITV Player would be added to Sky's On Demand service on 31 January 2012.[17] The service is accessible through the main on Demand menu as well as a dedicated ITV Player section. ITV Player initially only offered archive content, with catch-up programming becoming available on 26 September 2012.

Samsung Smart TV & Blu Ray Players

On 6 July 2012, it was announced that ITV Player had been made available on Samsung's Smart TVs and Blu-ray players through their Samsung Smart TV service, for 2011 and later devices.[18]

Virgin Media

On 8 January 2009, it was announced that ITV Net Player would be added to Virgin Media's digital cable TV service.[19] The deal allows Virgin Media's 3.5 million TV customers to view over 40 hours of programming from ITV, 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. The service began a three-day deployment programme on 24 February 2009. Virgin Media's viewers were able to choose from 500 hours of ITV comedies, documentaries and dramas, on demand through the TV Choice section, however the contract to supply archive content ended on 23 February 2013.[20]

YouView

ITV Player was one of four service available at the launch of YouView in July 2012. At launch the ITV Player app contained options to resume watching recent programmes and browse by channel, day and A-to-Z, but lacked integrated search and contained non-skippable adverts.[21] During 2013, ITV intend to introduce paid-for content into ITV Player on YouView.[2]

Games consoles

PlayStation 3

ITV Player was released on 14 December 2010 on PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network[22] utilising the web-browser to distribute content rather than an app. It was 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 were able to add their own equivalent services so they were also accessible from the PS3 platform on a similar basis to ITV Player. After the re-brand to ITV Hub, the service is no longer available on the PS3[23]

Xbox One and Xbox 360

ITV Player is not currently available for either the Xbox One or Xbox 360 platforms. However, the STV Player app run by STV, who currently hold the ITV licence for Scotland, has been launched on Xbox 360. The STV Player app contains much of the content found on ITV Player and requires a Scottish postcode to be entered prior to use.

Mobile platforms

ITV Player as displayed on iOS

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.[24] The app features programming from ITV, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 for up to seven days after broadcast. However content is only available to view in the UK and ITV programming is blocked in the STV and UTV regions. A Wi-Fi connection is also required. The mobile apps were developed by digital agency Candyspace.[25] During 2013, ITV intend to introduce paid-for content into ITV Player across all mobile platforms.[2]

Android devices

An application for devices running Google's Android operating system was released on 20 June 2011.[26] 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 to allow ITV to "keep you informed about improvements and other exciting developments at ITV."[27] On 14 January 2013, ITV Player 2.0 was released adding support for Android 3.x Gingerbread to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a re-engineered user interface.[28]

Due to Adobe not updating support for Android, Flash is not readily available for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean so the existing ITV Player cannot be used. A new app was trialled but was only available on Samsung products and received poor reviews on Google Play Store. Upon the release of the app on 9 May 2013, Samsung entered into an exclusivity agreement with ITV, with the ITV Player app available exclusively on Samsung devices until 31 August. ITV's online product director, James Micklethwait, cited "fragmentation of the Android ecosystem" as the motive behind the deal.[29] New ITV hub doesn't work with many android devices.

iOS devices

An application for Apple's iOS (iOS 4.3 or later) operating system and either the iPad (1st generation or later), iPhone (3GS or later) and iPod Touch (3rd generation or later), was launched on 1 July 2011.[30][31]

In June 2013, the iOS app was updated to add a trial premium section, allowing subscribers to watch catch-up content without advertising, as well as pay to view live streams of ITV3 and ITV4.[32] Early reviews of the updated app on the App Store were generally negative, with users commenting that the subscription option provided poor value for money.[33]

Windows Phone

As of May 2014 the ITV Player has been released for Windows Phone which is just like the Android and iOS versions.[34] However, the STV Player app run by STV, who currently hold the ITV licence for Scotland, has been launched on Windows Phone. Users of the STV Player can input their postcode to verify they live in Scotland, thus allowing users who are visiting other regions of the UK, to use the app and view content. The STV Player app contains much of the content found on ITV Player.

Syndication

ITV does not syndicate its content to other providers such as YouTube and SeeSaw like Channel 4 or Channel 5. Although some ITV programmes can be 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.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "ITV's Catch Up rebranded ITV Player". Media Week. 5 December 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 "ITV Player pay-per-view downloads coming to YouView and mobiles". Recombu. 27 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "British TV firm dumps Silverlight". The Register. 15 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "ITV to launch TV micropayment system in January". The Guardian. 27 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "ITV unveils new ITV Player". ITV Media. 29 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "ITV signs catch-up deal for BT Vision". ITV plc. 17 November 2008.
  7. ↑ "BT Vision to offer ITV catch-up service, box gets firmware update to help it cope". Home Cinema Choice. 19 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "Freesat Assign BBC iPlayer and ITV Player Channel Slots". Join Freesat. 16 December 2010.
  9. ↑ "ITV Player Beta Code Released". Join Freesat. 3 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "Freesat Launches ITV Player (channel 903)". Join Freesat. 26 July 2011.
  11. ↑ "On Demand on HD boxes and TVs". Freesat. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "Manhattan Plaza HD-S v1.45 Update Available". Join Freesat. 31 July 2012.
  13. ↑ "ITV Player now on Echostar receiver". Join Freesat. 14 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "ITV Player now on Samsung receiver". Join Freesat. 14 November 2012.
  15. ↑ "ITV Encore to launch on Sky". ITV. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  16. ↑ Langshaw, Mark (11 June 2014). "ITV Player now available on Roku, Now TV". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  17. ↑ "Sky Anytime+ goes from strength to strength with more content and increased reach". BSkyB Corporate. 30 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "ITV Player on Samsung Smart TVs". Advanced Television. 6 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Thousands of hours of ITV shows to be made available on demand by Virgin Media". Virgin Media. 8 January 2009.
  20. ↑ "Re: itv On Demand gone ?". Virgin Media. 11 March 2013.
  21. ↑ "Humax YouView DTR-T1000 review". Expert Reviews. 24 July 2012.
  22. ↑ "ITV Player to launch on PlayStation 3". ITV plc. 18 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012.
  23. ↑ "Itv player on ps3". ITV plc. 20 December 2015.
  24. ↑ "ITV plc Interim Management Statement". ITV plc. 11 May 2011.
  25. ↑ "ITV brings TV catch-up player to iPad and iPhone". New Media Age. 1 July 2011.
  26. ↑ "ITV Player catch-up service now available on Android". Eurodroid. 20 June 2011.
  27. ↑ "ITV Player Launches Android App". Trusted Reviews. 22 June 2011.
  28. ↑ "ITV Player for Android Gets New UI and Support for Android 2.3+ Devices". Softpedia. 14 January 2013.
  29. ↑ "Samsung lands exclusivity deal for new ITV Player app". Digital Spy. 9 May 2013.
  30. ↑ "ITV Player launches on Apple's iPhone, iPad". Digital Spy. 1 July 2011.
  31. ↑ "ITV Player By ITV". Apple.com. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  32. ↑ "ITV introduces Apple subs fee". Broadcast. 11 June 2013.
  33. ↑ "UK broadcaster ITV introduces £3.99 live TV streaming for iOS but viewers are not impressed". The Next Web. 12 June 2013.
  34. ↑ "- Microsoft Store". microsoft.com. Microsoft.
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