ISPs sign up for BBC trial in bid to cut iPlayer costs

摘要

At least three UK internet service providers have signed up for a soon-to-launch technical trial of a system intended to reduce the costs of delivering the BBC's popular iPlayer online video service. The move comes amid heated debate within the industry on whether content owners should contribute to the costs incurred by internet service providers (ISPs) in delivering their material. The three ISPs - including, it is understood, cable operator Virgin Media - together account for more than half the UK broadband market share. The BBC has also been talking to other major ISPs, including BT, BSkyB, Carphone Warehouse (which owns Talk Talk and AOL) and Tiscali.