The outpouring is typified by reviews like those from Trusted Reviews, PS3 Attitude and WebWire TV and compliments we’ve seen posted from users like: “huge improvement,” “swanky,” “rather tidy,” “really slick,” ”it rocks,” and “looks gorgeous”. These really are the greatest reward for the immense efforts of the team who put it together. So thank you all!

However, some of you have struggled to find the new BBC iPlayer on the PS3, which may have recently disappeared from the TV / Video menu. The reason it has disappeared is that since Sony updated the PS3 firmware to v3.7 a couple of weeks ago, TV services like BBC iPlayer have required users to install a small app to launch them.

While you don’t need to be signed in to the Playstation Network (PSN) to use BBC iPlayer, you do in order to install the link to it in the first place. So, if you’re not signed in already, select the PSN icon – second from the right on the XMB - and select “Sign In” to start the process.

Once you’ve completed this, you’ll find a new rainbow coloured folder under the newly renamed TV/Video Services section of the XMB, called My Channels.

Select this and you should see a massive BBC iPlayer button alongside those of other TV services. If you don’t see it immediately, give it a minute or so to update. Selecting the BBC iPlayer button will re-install our icon in the TV/Services section. Choose it to launch the new BBC iPlayer from now on.

Finding BBC iPlayer is one challenge; quitting is also causing some confusion. Unfortunately the Sony framework required to deliver this improved version of BBC iPlayer on the PS3 relies on the old way of closing apps. Rather than tapping on the PS button to pull up the XMB, you'll need to hold down the PS button for a couple of seconds, then choose "Quit."

Unsurprisingly, like every major launch, this one has not been without its teething problems. But we believe we have now shored up the video distribution network servicing the new HD-capable BBC iPlayer on the PS3, which briefly buckled a little under the strain of the product’s success.

If you’re still experiencing any playback issues, you should check the performance of your own network and ISP via your PS3. Make sure you are signed into the PSN and go to “Network Settings” under the “Settings” section on the XMB. Select “Internet Connection Test” and leave it a minute to run. The figure you’re interested in is “Connection Speed (Download).”

You’ll need this to be consistently over 1Mbit/sec to be sure video can play in BBC iPlayer. Over 3Mbit/sec is required for HD. If you struggle to get over 2Mbit/sec, you may need to go to the “Video Quality” area of the “Settings” section of BBC iPlayer and select “Lower Quality” as the preferred video quality to ensure reliable playback.

Gideon Summerfield is the Executive Product Manager, BBC iPlayer TV.

His team is part of Dave Price' s TV & iPlayer department within Daniel Danker 's Future Media Programmes & On-Demand group.

Gideon Summerfield demonstrates the new iPlayer on connected TVs in the BBC's Blue Room

Soon after we launched the BBC iPlayer website, we recognised an opportunity to bring the full richness of our on demand service directly to the TV, initially via the Web browsers that were being introduced on the Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation3 games consoles. Believe it or not, it was nearly three years ago we first launched what we then called the “Big Screen” version of BBC iPlayer, adapting the website at the time to work on a TV screen.

Since then we have been working closely with the consumer electronics industry to get this product onto what is now a staggering 300 different models of TV device, including BluRay disc players; set-top boxes, media streamers and Smart TVs (what we used to call Connected TVs). With the popularity of connected TV devices soaring, the time is right to introduce a new version with a simpler, more TV-like experience.

You can tell, just by looking at it, that this is a TV product. We have returned to the BBC’s long TV design heritage to create a visually rich user interface that delivers a high impact from the sofa. Every piece of content and function can be easily reached using just the four direction and Enter keys found on any TV remote.

As well as eliminate the sort of complicated page navigation that often comes with services that originate on the Web, we have minimised other limitations of TV devices. One example is how we’re bundling up episodes of the same programme to cut down lists and avoid scrolling. We’ve also improved availability messaging. No longer will you waste time hunting for a programme which, for one reason or another, will not be coming to BBC iPlayer. We’ll flag up if content is expiring soon so you’ll never again have to miss a great BBC show.

Personalisation is a great tool to bring the most relevant nearer. If you’ve already started watching something, you’ll find it right there at the top level, under Last Played. We know searching is the preferred way to find content for many people and if you’ve successfully searched for something before you don’t need to type it in again: its there under Previous Searches. But even if you haven’t searched for a programme before, the process is now a lot more intuitive. Results start to pop up quickly, based on any part of the title, taking into account factors like popularity and typing errors.

We’ve also brought BBC iPlayer Favourites to the TV. Compiling a list of shows that you like best has proven popular on the PC and we think it will be appreciated even more on TV where getting around is that bit harder.

Wherever we can, we’ve tried to avoid the need to run the entire length of the browsing process, such as the ability to with just one click find related shows and access your Favourites while you’re watching something else. It’s the on-demand equivalent of channel flipping.

While it may not look anything like a website, what we are unveiling today - initially on the PS3 games console - is built using the same technology: HTML and Javascript. The increasing use of standards for playing media, such as HTML5 and CE-HTML (both elements of the the Dbook7 standard for hybrid TV devices in the UK) is making it easier for us to roll this out more widely. So, expect to see it come to other devices in the coming months. We’re also building a variant that will work on new TV devices that are integrating the latest technology from Adobe: Flash 10.x and Air 2.x.

In addition to helping to make development easier we think building standard products on these two widely understood technologies will be able to address the majority of connected TV devices that we see our audience buying for their homes. This way we can bring this new more TV-like, easy and personal BBC iPlayer experience to the TVs of more and more of the UK’s living rooms.

Gideon Summerfield is the Executive Product Manager, BBC iPlayer TV.

His team is part of Dave Price's TV & iPlayer department within Daniel Danker's Future Media Programmes & On-Demand group.

• Press Release: BBC launches new BBC iPlayer for TV

Our latest figures show there has already been a 10-fold increase in consumption of BBC iPlayer content on connected TVs, set top boxes and BluRay players since June last year, so we are certain these efforts are well placed.

• Customers of Virgin Media digital cable and BT Vision are now able to get access to the full BBC iPlayer experience on TV

• BBC iPlayer is being rolled out onto more and more connected TVs and Bluray Disc Players thanks to growing support for HTML and Flash. This includes new devices from Panasonic, Sony, LG, Toshiba and Syabas.

• We are even able to offer a version of BBC iPlayer for new Freeview HD devices that don't support HTML or Flash

First off, last week saw Virgin Media formally launch its new TiVo-powered set-top box. And the great news is it has Flash built in and supports our Flash-based BBC iPlayer. If you get your hands on one of these you can find BBC iPlayer in the Apps and Games area or by pressing the Red Button on a BBC channel.

Above: BBC iPlayer as it looked previously on Virgin Media

Above: BBC iPlayer as it looks now on Virgin Media

With a new user interface that makes it easy to find programmes, and an increase in the amount of programmes available, (up from around 600 to 900 hours on average, bringing it in line with BBC iPlayer on other Connected TV devices), catch-up radio, plus popular features such as subtitles and Most Popular listings.

Whilst one of the first, Virgin's Tivo-powered box is not alone in supporting our standard Flash app. Another device we've recently certified is the Popcorn Hour media player from Syabas and we expect to certify more soon.

I'm also very happy to confirm that the roll-out of BBC iPlayer on BT Vision is ramping up in earnest now that BT has started to upgrade the software on those boxes. By the end of next week, 100,000 homes should be able to access BBC iPlayer and by the end of June it should be available to pretty much everyone in the UK with a BT Vision box. If you have one, check out channel 990 to see if it's arrived in your area yet.

BBC iPlayer as it looks on BT Vision channel 990

And I'm glad to say that we have been able to certify the standard HTML version of BBC iPlayer for TV on these in recent days.

Last week we also made an important release for Freeview HD. We can now offer BBC iPlayer to new connected TVs and set-top box receivers that conform to the latest Freeview HD specification, known as Dbook 6.2.1. This standard version of our application relies on MHEG-5, the same technology that powers BBC iPlayer on millions of Freesat HD boxes, and the technology long used to deliver Red Button services on Freeview and Freesat.

The first product to be certified for this version, accessed via the Red Button from a BBC channel, is a new Freeview+ HD PVR from Sony (see below).

As you can see we are working hard to deliver BBC iPlayer on a variety of devices that you connect to your living room TV.

And in future we hope to use the same technology to bring you even more enriched IPTV services from the BBC.

So keep an eye on our Where to Get BBC iPlayer page, which we will be updating soon to list every single model certified for BBC iPlayer.

Gideon Summerfield is Product Manager, TV iPlayer

In order to support BBC iPlayer, BT Vision will update the software on their boxes, rolling it out gradually across their customer base. Once a box is upgraded, our app can be launched from BT Vision's main menu, giving access to more than 400 hours of new TV programmes and many more hours of BBC radio each week.

During BT Vision's rollout from December, the selected 50 hours of BBC programmes available within BT Vision's TV Replay will still be available. Once rollout is complete in April, the BBC iPlayer application will replace BBC programmes in the legacy TV replay service.

Opening BBC iPlayer on TV to such a large connected audience represents a major advance in our effort to bring the full BBC iPlayer experience to TVs. Already, nearly a third of all TV programmes enjoyed through BBC iPlayer are watched using TV-connected devices including games consoles, set-top boxes, disc players and connected TVs. This is all the more enjoyable when the experience is accessed from the same remote as the TV, as is the case with BT Vision.

BT Vision's set-top boxes use the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV platform to deliver TV on demand alongside TV broadcast over Freeview. Last year Microsoft added a technology to this called Presentation Framework (MSPF) to let IPTV network operators add extra services delivered over the Web. We partnered with Pushbutton to build the BBC iPlayer app on BT Vision using this technology. You'll see the experience is pretty slick!

TV programmes are delivered in the WMV format at a total data rate of 1300kbit/sec. BT Vision tell us that all customers should be able to watch this without interruption, whatever their broadband connection speed. Radio is delivered in the WMA format at 128kbit/sec.

Those are the top line technical details. We will let you know how the early users get on, and try to get a more detailed rollout schedule so BT Vision customers can get a better idea of when they'll get BBC iPlayer on the TV.

Gideon Summerfield is Product Manager, TV iPlayer

Many people are also interested in the technical details of what we've done and how the BBC iPlayer service will develop on TV-connected devices. So here goes....

First, the video: we're using the H.264 codec at a rate in the region of 700kbit/sec. The quality is probably as good as H.264 can get on this device. We've worked closely with Nintendo and our encoding partner Red Bee Media to squeeze every last drop of video goodness out of the Wii. It's been a balancing act: too much resolution or data and the CPU struggles and drops frames.

Compare this to BBC iPlayer on the PC, where most boxes deal happily with our 1500kbit/sec for regular TV and even 3200kbit/sec for HD (assuming they can get data fast enough).

Needless to say you won't be seeing HD on the current Wii, I'm afraid. But with a more efficient codec and higher bitrate, our new version of BBC iPlayer is doing a lot better. The Flash plug-in available in the browser on the Wii, on which we used to rely, could only support the Sorenson Spark codec at around 500kbit/sec.

BBC Radio content - well over 2000 hours every week - is delivered in the AAC format at 128kbit/sec, the same as on the PC and better quality than DAB. And our Radio Station animations, delivered at the same time, give a hint of what visualised radio could be on IPTV platforms.

We've really been breaking new ground here. This is the very first application built on an all-new rich media solution from Nintendo. So, you will understand that we can't achieve all we want to right away. Subtitles, for instance, are not immediately available as the platform can't ingest and parse the feeds we have while playing video. As part of our development programme we are seeking other ways to deliver subtitles.

In response to JonathanExplorer's question about chapterisation, I'd like to say yes, absolutely - many of the exciting functions you are seeing introduced to BBC iPlayer on the PC will come to the TV, where they add value to the lean-back experience. Likewise we expect to add new functions on TV that enhance the 10ft experience that might not make sense on the PC.

And be assured - we're not stopping with the Wii. As Rahul said, this launch is just part of the "challenging programme to expand the reach of BBC iPlayer in the living room."

Gideon Summerfield is Product Manager, TV iPlayer

picture taken from mobile in front of a very sunny window

The continuing demand for large, flat screen HD TV sets flies in the face of the credit crunch but there is still not much high-quality HD content available. The BBC HD channel is, of course, at the forefront of making more available as far and wide as possible, but adding a catch-up element to this provides more opportunity to watch some of the best of it.

iPlayer users with fast internet connections are already benefitting from HD on the web version of the iPlayer. And, by using the proprietary VOD cable TV network, we can now also offer even better HD video to the 500,000+ homes who already have an HD-capable set-top cable TV box*. And just like the standard-definition BBC iPlayer content, that 1.5 million cable homes regularly watch, the HD programmes play to the end without hiccup or pause, for everyone.

That's not to say what's being achieved is easy. HD video in the 1080i video format we're using has five times the resolution of regular TV pictures. The size of the HD video files we are shipping around are enormous, so we have to get them down to a size that can be sent more comfortably over the web: we squeeze 720P HD video into a data rate of just 3.5mbit/sec with clever use of the very efficient H.264 encoding system. The older MPEG2 format supported by digital cable, however, needs 18mbit/sec for 1080i To support the older MPEG2 format needed by digital cable, however, we are encoding 1080i HD video at 18mbit/sec - a rate that is unthinkable on the open Internet today - a rate that is unthinkable on the open Internet today.

* To watch HD in BBC iPlayer on digital cable you will need a V+ set-top box connected to an HD-capable TV with an HDMI or component cable (not SCART). Also, the HD options will only appear in the extended BBC iPlayer user interface if you have chosen a "HiDef " video display option on your set-top box (from the Virgin Media Home page chose Settings > Change Display and Audio Settings >TV Display Format).

Gideon Summerfield is Products Manager, TV iPlayer, BBC Future Media & Technology

picture taken from mobile in front of a very sunny window

All 3.4 million digital cable customers who already get BBC iPlayer pumped directly into their TV screens at no extra cost can now make use of "Series Catch Up".

Series Catch Up means that multiple episodes of a selection of the BBC's TV series will remain available until 7 days after we broadcast the final episode in the series; rather than the standard one week window for other programmes on iPlayer.

If you discover a great TV series part way through there's now no reason to let the whole series pass you by. We've all done it - personally I'm still kicking myself over Life on Mars.

BBC iPlayer on cable TV is already very successful. Even with a much smaller universe of users than broadband PCs, it accounts for a third of all iPlayer TV views (11.7m in September).

If you have Virgin Media TV and want to try it out- just press Red while on a BBC channel; select BBC iPlayer from the Red Button index (which we call "The Bridge"); then choose "Series Catch Up" from the BBC iPlayer Home Page/Categories List.

Selecting one of the series from the list of those currently being "stacked" (the industry jargon for this sort of service) will reveal all the episodes available on iPlayer.

I know its only one function. And I know it has been available on the online version of the iPlayer for a few months now but for the BBC iPlayer on TV team, it's a major achievement.

Development for TV platforms is a much greater challenge than for the PC. The set-top boxes (STBs) that run our Red Button stuff are made for linear TV and there's not much power to drive anything else. PCs, by contrast, are powerful, easily upgraded and almost universally support standards like HTML, Javascript and Flash.

If PCs are the Swiss army knives of technology, then all today's humble STB has for interactive media is a toothpick. That limits what we can achieve.

We also rely on a third-party to reach our audiences. In this case the challenge has been to integrate our iPlayer video and metadata encoding and delivery systems with Virgin Media's proprietary back-end video on demand (VOD) engine and extensive cable network.

Virgin and our partner Red Bee Media must also be recognised for their efforts in helping to sync all our systems to make BBC iPlayer on cable TV a reality.

Just because it's hard doesn't mean we should avoid it. The BBC loves a challenge and we know the TV is where most people want to watch VOD. So, we'll keep pushing digital cable as far as we can and pursue other opportunities to get iPlayer to the TV.

You won't hear from us as often as the online iPlayer team but watch this space for more good news in the New Year.

Gideon Summerfield is Products Manager, TV iPlayer, BBC Future Media & Technology