The highly rated BBC internet catch up TV service ‘iPlayer’ has had a HD makeover. Now arguably the best online TV service is available in stunning high definition format.

Anthony Rose. Controller of media & technology called the HD and other improvments ‘the most significant release since the service went live’. Full list of changes include:-

Improved video quality

The standard definition (SD), 1500Kbps stream has had the quality improved to one thats “pretty close to TV quality” said Rose, “as good as most Freeview channels”. The standard quality on standard viewing has been increased from 500Kbps to 800Kbps. Previously this quality was only available as a HQ (high quality) option.

High Definition (HD)

To watch this will require not only a fast connections but fast computers. Showing in 1280×720 pixel resolution and encoding bitrate 3.2Mbps. However if your setup can handle it Rose says that this is genuine HD, not just very high quality SD streaming pretending to be HD as some websites try to pass as HD.

Adaptive Bitrate

iPlayer checks your connection speeds to deliver the highest each user can handle. You can see that process happening in a new diagnostics test that shows how fast your connection actually is and what video quality you can watch. Rose says the service will lower video quality in response to changes in network speed while streaming and eventually the iPlayer will then be able to increase or decrease quality during the same programme if bandwidth increases.

iPlayer on your TV

Any viewer that has Windows Media Extender enabled television can download iPlayer programmes and watch them on the big screen.

Larger viewing screen

After viewer suggestions and complaints, the iPlayer viewing screen is now resizable and nicer to view.

The revamped BBC site is now in our HD TV section. Other tweaks are coming in the next couple of months followed by a summer new release. Those BBC boys dont mess around. Hulu are you taking note?

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2. The BBC Releases Improved iPlayer For Wii Gamers
3. Sky TV now showing BBC iPlayer content online
4. Samsung Blu ray players getting the Netflix makeover
5. Youtube to take iPlayer worldwide?