Channel Four on Demand: Sorry, Mac users
Mac users in the UK have been waiting a long time (like, years) for Channel 4's Video on Demand "Catch Up" service to come to their platform, and finally, after long last, the day is here. And they're sorry, Mac users -- they say so with the cute video above. Of course, the reason why it's now compatible is because it's the Flash-based web version linked above, and not actually the desktop app that Windows users had. But late and web-based is still better than never, right? Right?
At any rate, it's nice to know they care enough to make a funny video. The site features Channel 4 content for up to 30 days after broadcast, so if you happen to miss Hollyoaks, Skins, or Fat Pets (I'm just kidding -- being an ignorant American, I have no idea what those shows are or if they're any good), there's your chance to catch up.
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Mac users in the UK have been waiting a long time (like, years) for Channel 4's Video on Demand "Catch Up" service to come to their...
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The It crowed is one probably the only show i would have used 40d for, though saying that i was tempted to use it on windows to watch peep show but you can get it on dvd for next to nothing now.
ITV player seems to be ok, i get to watch primeval which is good.
But i agreed that the BBC has done things much better. The iPlayer is very good, and you can even watch it on your apple tv (via boxee).
OMG, I can't believe I forgot about the IT Crowd! It's awesome.
April 08 2009 at 7:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGrand designs is nice.
April 08 2009 at 9:18 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySame here, its about the only British show I watch on four as I'm still not sure about the Inbetweeners; Will is hilarious, but Jay is a little too obnoxious and crude for me. The rest is crap, thank goodness for great US shows like The Big Bang Theory, Scrubs and The Simpsons. Don't get me started on the BBC, the ONLY shows I watch on any of their channels is Top Gear and Family Guy. The rest is utter garbage.
April 08 2009 at 7:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt took years to get a flash player working on Mac?! Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't the internet supposed to be platform agnostic and standards based? I think the service is still piss poor compared to BBC's iPlayer. You can't watch it on iPhone or iPod Touch, which is the reason why iPlayer is so useful for me.
April 08 2009 at 8:21 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIn all fairness they had to build a complicated flash player where most of the stuff happens server side so they can include adverts and stop people ripping the flv 'a la youtube'.
C4 is privately owned and deserves to make a profit.
@joel
Actually, Channel 4 is not private but a public service broadcaster and is owned by British taxpayers.
When it launched in 1982, Margaret Thatcher had to find a way to balance demands for a new public broadcaster with the fact that she doesn't like spending money on anything. Hence, a public service broadcaster with commercials.
I'm happy they've done this - although the service only seems to be available for catch-up only (last 30 days of channel 4).
It doesn't yet seem available for proper 4oD (including the back-catalogue library).
The quality seems better with the web-based player though... And there's no adverts from what I've seen (inbetweeners season 2!).
no back-catalogue :n(
that’s the only reason to want to use 4OD. All the new shows are mostly absolute crap!
Guess I'm still gonna have to boot into Windows after all
4od used to be available in Ireland but it doesn't seem to be anymore... anyone else encounter this?
April 08 2009 at 6:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply"Being an ignorant American, I have no idea what those shows are or if they're any good"... No, no they're not.
April 08 2009 at 5:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIn fact they're so bad, I didn't even know my Mac couldn't use 4OD until reading this article.
The BBC is the only good thing on UK TV (Freeview). ITV has some champions league games. The rest is a vast ocean of garbage, until you reach the distant, warring nations of Virgin and Sky.
Bah, Skins is immense...though series 3 wasn't nearly as good as the first two...still quite enjoyable.
April 08 2009 at 11:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAs happy as I am to have the catch up feature, I'm less than impressed - where is the native app? Where is the ability to do all the same things and access all the same shows that our windows using friends can?
April 08 2009 at 5:11 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYay! Now I can have iPlayer and 4OD to make my life complete... :)
April 08 2009 at 4:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI remember the days when Channel 4 used to be quite good (Father Ted, Brass Eye). Nowadays it's celebrity crap for tweens and repeats of Scrubs, Frasier and Friends for the rest of us (good shows, just imported and repeated ad nauseum). It hadn't occurred to me that they would even need a catch-up player, .
April 08 2009 at 4:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyFinally! One less reason for me to boot up the Windows VM. Web based is fine for me, its how I use the BBC iPlayer. streaming quality is fantastic from the BBC. So if C4 can match the quality I'm happy.
Hay Boxxe!! get on it!
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