iPlayer upgrade may push up broadband subscriptions
Monday, September 22nd, 2008
The corporation has already started encoding shows using H.264 compression, which offers better-quality video that streams at 800 Kbps, plus higher audio quality using the AAC+ format.
The upgrade has been made possible in part because delivery provider Level3, which specialises in distributing online video to internet service providers, has started supporting H.264.
However, the BBC’s decision to switch from delivery provider Akamai to Level3 for its iPlayer seven day catch-up service has provoked criticism from smaller ISPs who say the move will put a great strain on their networks.
Whereas Amakai used servers within individual ISPs to hold cached data, meaning the ISPs did not need to purchase extra bandwidth to carry data from outside servers, Level3 distributes its media content from its own central servers. This means that transfer costs for individual ISPs are higher, and will be shared between the BBC and the ISP.
This is bad news for smaller ISPs who may have to increase subscription charges in order to support the extra costs. In a statement, well-regarded independent ISP Zen said “Zen Internet is expecting the decision to increase its costs economically; all but a select few large networks must pay Level3 to receive traffic originated within their network”.
Anthony Rose, head of the BBC’s digital media technology, said that the decision was not meant to shift delivery costs from the BBC to ISPs. “We have been consulting with major ISPs on our H.264 deployment,” he said. “The fact is that some content delivery networks aren’t able to support H.264 currently.”
This is not the first time that the iPlayer has prompted shouts from ISPs. Earlier this year broadband provider Tiscali suggested it should get a cut of the licence fee because the iPlayer’s huge popularity was increasing traffic on its networks.
