On Thu, 2009-06-18 at 01:47 +0100, Tom Fitzhenry wrote: > Hey guys, > > Are there any plans on supporting HTML 5's <video> tag for iPlayer? > > I realise there are rights issues with some programmes and that rights > holders might have problems with non-DRM solutions, but presumably there > are some programmes which the BBC have full rights to.
This shouldn't be a problem from a rights perspective AFAIK. Currently all web based iPlayer content (including the 3200 kbps HD streams) is delivered without any DRM. RTMP is not DRM or content protection. > Supporting the <video> tag raises the question of which codec to use, > which is difficult to answer because there is no codec that every > vaguely popular browser (IE, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome) supports or > plans to support in the near future. > > IE has been silent so far (though there are DirectShow filters for Ogg > Theora/Vorbis.[0]). > Firefox 3.5 will support Ogg Theora/Vorbis (and cannot support H.264/AAC > because of patent issues).[1] > Safari will support H.264/AAC (Ogg Theora/Vorbis plugins for Quicktime > exist[2]).[3] > Opera will support Ogg Theora/Vorbis (I don't know if they plan to > purchase licenses for its users.)[4] > Chrome will support Ogg Theora/Vorbis and H.264/AAC.[5] > > I think users of alternative browsers (Firefox, Opera, Chrome), rather > than non-alternative browsers would most appreciate <video> to Flash. > Also, H.264/AAC cannot be supported in browsers without huge financial > backing (because of patent issues), where as Ogg Theora/Vorbis is > believed to be patent-free. > > As such, to benefit most people, I think using Ogg Theora/Vorbis would > be the best choice. +1 for this. Come on beeb - at least come up with a demo page so we can give it a test! Also, why didn't Dirac make it into these browsers? It would seem like a great missed opportunity... > Regards, > Tom Fitzhenry Regards Phil - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
