James R | On 29, Nov 2013

Is BBC iPlayer on the Xbox One and the PS4? That’s the question for video on-demand viewers looking to catch up with The Day of the Doctor this weekend on their next generation console. Because while the streaming service is available on the PS4 from launch today, Microsoft’s rival is lacking in the pink triangle department.

It may sound like a trivial issue for those who will primarily be concerned with spending their weekend immersing themselves in the latest video games, but these days, TV consoles are entertainment hubs too, giving living rooms smart TVs that can stream everything from Netflix and LOVEFiLM Instant to Demand5. With the ability to play Blu-ray to boot, they have become HD video boxes as much as gaming devices.

The PS4 launch entertainment apps for the UK have been confirmed as follows:

Music Unlimited
Video Unlimited
IGN
BBC iPlayer
VidZone
LOVEFiLM
Netflix
BBC Sports
BBC News
Demand5

Another 20+ entertainment apps will be added between Friday 29th November and Spring 2013, including MUBI, Filmo TV and Tunein.

These apps can all be accessed on the PS4 without subscribing to PlayStation Plus. That’s the key difference to Xbox One.

The following Xbox One TV apps will be released between now and Spring 2014:

Netflix
4OD
LOVEFiLM
Blinkbox
Eurosport
Machinima
TED
Twitch
Wuaki.tv
Demand5
Crackle
Muzu TV

All Xbox 360 apps will be added to Xbox One over time, Microsoft has confirmed, once they have been updated for the new console. Now TV will be added next summer.

So where is the BBC iPlayer? The problem is that Microsoft has its Xbox Live paywall to factor into the equation: the BBC are not keen to have the iPlayer available on a paid basis.

The BBC told TechRadar: “Whilst we are working to bring BBC iPlayer to Xbox One in the future, we have no further details to share at this time.”

With hundreds of pounds in the balance, and iPlayer available on both Xbox 360 and the PS3, does the absence of BBC’s on-demand service make a difference to your decision to buy a next generation console?

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