ABC launches iview for mobile
The ABC has launched a mobile version of its on-demand TV streaming service, iview. The launch is intended to respond to the changing viewing habits of Australian TV audiences who are increasingly consuming TV content on the move and using multiple screens to view.
The ABC reports that 3.3 million viewers use iview per month on average, which it claims is an increase of 22% compared to last year. The iview mobile version is a universal iOS mobile app, which means it is currently only available to owners of Apple devices, with plans to create an HTML5 version in the works.
ABC TV was the first to market in Australia with the launch of its online streaming service in 2008. The 2012 Nielsen Online Consumer Report claimed that half of the Australians who are legally watching TV content online use iview.
iview is already available for iPad users over Wi-Fi, but the new service will be accessible via 3G as well as wifi. The iPad app has been downloaded by 490,000 unique users to date. The addition of the mobile platform means the ABC has one of the most diverse platform capabilities in Australian broadcasting, with the service available via web browsers, internet-enabled TVs, blu-ray players, gaming consoles and media centres as well as tablet.
The service offers the ability to share programs with the viewer’s social networks as well as parental controls and supports closed captioning.
Kim Dalton, ABC director of TV said in a press release: “ABC iview was one of the important first steps in the evolution of ABC TV’s content offering. It provides choice in terms of what people watch, when they watch it and on what device. Today we are taking it another step forward.”
A spokesperson for the ABC told Mumbrella: “ABC iview understands the demand for an Android iview app, and are working towards achieving official Android support following a planned redevelopment of iview in HTML5. We hope to overcome the over-riding constraint, which has been the cost to develop, technical effort and resource required to support Android, given its complex eco-system, within the limitations of the small but dedicated iview team. Something to remember is that the fact that iview is already available to many Android users via the Flash website version, though we acknowledge and appreciate that this isn’t perfect”.
Great work and a fantastic team behind this
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These days a launch that is not featuring Android launch is not a proper launch. More Androids are sold in this country than iPhone at the moment and it is about time to introduce launches that feature both.
If you can’t then at least say it is going to come in 2013 etc so you’re not alienating Android users
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Hi Common Sense -see updated story. The ABC says the iView team is “working towards achieving official Android support following a planned redevelopment of iview in HTML5.”
Cathie – Mumbrella
This is awesome! Good work ABC. Been waiting for something to keep me company on the train……
Now I just wish commercial networks would start looking into mobile technology. Their digital offerings are just crap.
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I use iView on my Samsung TV and its awesome for the kids.
Go in and play any tv shows when i want.
Good to here it now on mobile, but as normal Android is a second thought.
I have an Android phone and keep seeing companies making apps for iPhone.
Bet Apple are happy these companies are helping Apple’s profit margin.
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Best news I’ve heard all year! Most of my viewing is on iView.
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This is great news. Android is the sony beta of mobiles. They should support it but they would be crazy not to launch for iPhone first.
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People still don’t get the inherent difficulties in building android apps. It’s not as simple as building for one OS. With android, you essentially have to built several versions to allow for the various manufacturer overlays on the OS. Then you also have backward compatibility issues. It’s a problem google et al need to sort out if they want to be competitive. This is not apple’s problem.
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Awesome ABC, but wish you’d launch with Android! 🙁
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How do you watch TV ‘illegally’ in Australia?
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@bob is a rabbit … so true.
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