The long overdue BBC iPlayer will hopefully launch this Autumn 2009, using the 
Ethernet (RJ45) socket on a compliant freesat set top box or TV you will be able to connect this to your Broadband router/switch allowing streaming from the iPlayer though your internet connection.
The Ethernet connection has been a freesat standard from day one so no one should miss out the only issue you might find is your Broadband router is no where near your TV, this can be overcome with mains Ethernet adapters.
Will Abbott, Freesat’s marketing and communications director, said: “The Virgin numbers illustrate that when IPTV is brought into the living room there’s a huge increase in usage and there’s a huge appetite out there.”
“I think we will start to see critical mass in the next 12 to 24 months as awareness of on demand grows and it becomes part of people’s lives. We have now got a growing base of customers and we want to continue to develop a high quality service that gives the existing base of customers the best possible experience.â€
“There are technical challenges in terms of delivering quality content over the top that in the UK’s current state of broadband development still pose a challenge for an operator trying to bring a quality, managed service,†said James Strickland, Freesat’s director of product and technology development.
“In the immediate term we are looking at ways of delivering quality content to viewers today. As the technology delivers on its promise of quality of service it will allow us to grow.
“There will be a low bandwidth option but we will be looking at offering a high bandwidth option for those networks that are capable of reproducing the content in an acceptable fashion.
“Ultimately the best service would be delivered if the ISPs, broadcasters and content providers can work together to provide a place for each business to deliver the promise of the internet in terms of audio and video.â€
