Press release from ABC:
As more Australians choose to watch ABC TV programs when and where they want via ABC iView, the online TV service has been redesigned and will now be even more accessible via the Playstation®3 from today.
The collaboration between ABC TV and Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) means that people in the 670,000 homes across the country who have a PS3 will be able to access ABC iView optimised for their TV screen via the Playstation®Network. Watching iView through the PS3 will be unmetered by those Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) who currently offer unmetered access for ABC iView – the full list of which can be found at abc.net.au/iview.
In addition, the ABC iView service has been redesigned to make it easier for viewers to find and watch their favourite programs. The channels have been replaced by a genre listing featuring seven key program categories – Arts and Culture, Comedy, Documentaries, Drama, Entertainment, Lifestyle and News.
Within each of these genres, programs are further sorted to highlight the most recently added content. In addition, programs can also by sorted by TV channel – ABC1, ABC2, iView Exclusives, Australia Network and ABC Shop Downloads. The keyword search function has also be upgraded to provide series and episode details, while the home page will list the programs most recently added as well as those about to end.
Director of Television, Kim Dalton says 2010 will see even more exciting developments for the internet broadcast service. “ABC iView is arguably the most popular Australian online television viewing service and our partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment to offer it via the PS3 is only the start of a period of intense growth that will see ABC iView extend from computers to mobile and other platforms.”
Managing Director SCE Aust., Michael Ephraim says, “PS3 in Australia has today made a very significant leap forward with the addition of optimised online TV services to its already broad home entertainment credentials. ABC iView delivered on demand to the TV, from the comfort of the sofa, is not only a great consumer content proposition for the PS3 user, it’s a significant milestone for consoles in Australia.”
ABC iView has enjoyed extraordinary growth throughout 2009, recording its highest ever figures in October, with 286,000 visitors and 1.054 million visits. In the year-to-date, ABC iView has recorded a monthly average of 610,000 visits up 140% compared to the 2008 monthly average of 255,000.
Since April, there have been 6.2 million views of programs on ABC iView. The most viewed programs include Four Corners, United States of Tara, Good Game, Doctor Who, The Chaser’s War on Everything and Media Watch.