ITV Player first on Android, iOS to follow

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ITV has launched its catch-up TV service ITV Player for Android, a new video catch-up service for mobile and tablet devices. Viewers can watch all ITV programmes of which the rights to show on mobile are cleared, for up to seven days after broadcast.

ITV Player works on Android mobile and tablet devices that run Android 2.2 (or higher), Adobe Air 2.6 (or higher) and are connected to wireless internet. So no streaming is possible over mobile phone networks. Catch up on programming is available from ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4.

The app is free to download with unlimited usage. People need to register first with their email address. Viewers can browse recommended programmes or search for programmes by channel and alphabetically.

Viewers must be in the UK to view the ITV programmes. “Unfortunately we’re unable to show our content to users outside the UK,” according to the broadcaster. “People in some regions will be restricted to only viewing ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 programmes.”

Following the release of the Android ITV Player the broadcaster is now also working on applications for other devices including iPhone and iPad.

Last month the BBC launched its Android iPlayer app for UK audiences – a year after its iOS app was launched.

In a related development, there is now an official Wimbledon 2011 app out for iPhones and iPads, available for download from the App Store. The free app constantly updates with scores, schedules and on-demand videos and refreshes every 30 seconds.

There is no live video, but there are three radio stations that you can stream from the app – Radio Wimbledon, Centre Court and Court No.1.

[bassethound]

ITV has this week launched catch-up TV service ITV Player on mobile handsets running the Google Android operating system, as part of its ambitious digital expansion plans.

The ad-supported, on-demand service is available to download now from the Android Market, offering users the chance to catch up on shows such as Emmerdale and Popstar to Operastar.

To run the application, users need to have handsets running Android version 2.2 or above, with Adobe Air 2.6 installed. The launch follows the arrival of BBC iPlayer on Android in February.

ITV has ambitious plans to expand its video on-demand service, including a launch on Apple's iOS operating system scheduled for the third quarter of this year. The broadcaster also plans to create an optimised version of ITV Player for tablet computers running Android Honeycomb.

"I'm very excited to be launching our first ever ITV Player mobile app and genuinely believe that the simple design and high picture quality of this app is a leap forward in providing our customers with what they want to watch on the move," said Robin Pembrooke, the managing director of ITV Online and on-demand.

"Android is just the first step in a mobile strategy that will see us rolling out ITV Player across mobiles and tablets, including iPhones and iPads, across the rest of this year."

Last December, ITV Player launched on Sony's PlayStation 3 console, joining fellow catch-up services BBC iPlayer and Channel 4's 4oD.