BBC preps news, sports apps for iPhone
updated 11:05 am EST, Wed February 17, 2010
iPlayer app may come later this year
The BBC has revealed plans to release two long in-demand iPhone apps, addressing news and sports. The BBC News app should be submitted to the App Store by April, and offer easier access to text stories from the BBC website, while simultaneously incorporating blogs, audio and video. Separating the title from some other news apps will be the ability to send comments and pictures straight to the BBC newsroom.
The sports app will merge content from the BBC Sport website with 5 Live radio, also presenting the ability to watch some matches. On launch in June, the app will initially focus on football (soccer) to provide coverage of the World Cup; content such as Formula 1 races should come later. Both of the apps will be free, although separate international versions will be dependent on advertising.
The BBC has been comparatively slow in developing iPhone apps, which may be a result of worries about App Store terms of service. These appear to have fallen by the wayside however, and the broadcaster in fact states that it is contemplating releasing an iPlayer app later this year. Current BBC apps are relatively niche affairs, for instance streaming World News video.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2004
Excellent news
I look forward to these iPhone apps being available - currently I have the iPlayer site as a standalone web app but would welcome a proper full blown download app. The News and Sport apps also sound excellent - hopefully the Sport will mean no excuse for missing any World Cup action (provided they allow streaming over 3G of course!).