Chris
By email to: Chris ([FOI #398 email])
16 June 2008
Dear Chris
Freedom of Information request - RFI20080524
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act (‘the Act’) dated 27 May 2008
seeking information about the BBC iPlayer. The reference number for your request is RFI20080524.
You requested the following information:
“ 1) The cost of developing the BBC iPlayer for the Windows only client
2) The cost of developing the BBC iPlayer for streaming only site
3) The percentage of shows watched/downloaded via the Windows only
client (i.e. watched from client / total number watched)
4) The percentage of users of the iPlayer site that could use the
windows only client but use the streaming option.”
In answer to your request, the BBC does not hold all of the information you have requested but can
provide the following information in answer to your questions:
1)
The cost of developing the BBC iPlayer for the Windows only client
We develop many different audience facing products of which the BBC iPlayer is just one. We do not
break out the individual costs of the many elements of the infrastructure, for example content
management or media management, that support these products as these costs are shared across all
our products. We do not have the exact figure but we estimate that the Windows only portion is
small - roughly ten percent of the agreed costs for the BBC iPlayer in 2007/2008. BBC iPlayer has a
service budget of £4.0 million in 2007/8. In addition to this, BBC iPlayer is expected to spend a further
£4.8 million in the four year period to 2010/11 on refinement and service development. Please note
that these figures exclude rights and distribution costs.
Budgetary information on the BBC iPlayer is included in the bbc.co.uk Service Licence, a link to which
we are including for your further information:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/online/online_ser
vicelicences/bbc_co_uk_servicelicence_30apr2007.pdf
2)
The cost of developing the BBC iPlayer for streaming only site
As described above, we are not able to calculate this figure accurately because we do not break out
this cost from the overall figure, but we estimate that roughly ten percent of the agreed costs for the
BBC iPlayer in 2007/2008 is the cost of developing the BBC iPlayer for streaming only site.
3)
The percentage of shows watched/downloaded via the Windows only client (i.e. watched from
client / total number watched)
We do not have a percentage figure for the shows but we can confirm that streams to downloads
are in the ratio of 8:1, with downloading remaining beneficial because it delivers better quality. We
also plan to add further functionality that requires downloading, for example, delivery of high
definition (HD) content.
4) The percentage of users of the iPlayer site that could use the windows only client but use the
streaming option.
We estimate that eighty-five percent of users use Windows. Of this percentage, some users
download, some users stream and some use a combination of both.
We trust you find this information helpful.
Appeal Rights
If you are not satisfied with our response you have the right to an internal review by a BBC senior
manager. Please contact us at the address above, explaining what you would like us to review and
including your reference number. If you are not satisfied with the internal review, you can appeal to
the Information Commissioner. The contact details are: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe
House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, telephone 01625 545 700 or see
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
L. Stiller
Legal and Business Affairs Manager
BBC Future Media and Technology
