ABC iview is a video on demand and catch-up TV service run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Currently iview video content can only be viewed by users in Australia. As of 2016, ABC iview attracts around 50 million plays monthly and accounts for around half of the total time streamed by Australian TV video services.

History

After running for several months in beta form under the name "ABC Playback", the service became available as a Flash website in July 2008. This was the next step after the video podcasting of ABC TV programs since July 2006. The iview Flash website was redesigned in 2009 and 2010, to cater for a large increase in content. An iOS app for iPads was launched in December 2010, followed by a mobile version for iPhone in June 2012. An iview Android app supporting phones and tablets on Android 4.0.3 and above was released on 18 December 2013. Over the following years, iview was released to a range of Smart TVs, games consoles and other devices.

Content and programming

ABC iview provides on-demand access to almost all the TV programs that are broadcast on the ABC's linear broadcast channels (ABC TV, ABC Family, ABC Kids, ABC Entertains, ABC News), as well as simulcast live streams of those channels and original content and programs acquired exclusively for ABC iview. Programs are categorised by these genres: In September 2015, the ABC added a dedicated Arts channel to iview. Some shows premiere on iview before they feature on broadcast television, such as Rake and the BBC's Class.

Live streams

Devices and access

Website

The iview website streams video at up to 4,500Kbps using HTML5 based technology.

Mobile devices

Smart TVs

Video game consoles

Media streamers

Offline viewing

Unlike the ABC's podcasts, programs on the iview service are not officially downloadable and are only available to watch for a short time after the program has aired on the ABC. In 2012 the ABC sent a legal notice to the author of an open source program called Python-iView which enabled users to download videos from the ABC. Other download tools such as youtube-dl continue to claim support for unofficially downloading from the site.

Unmetering

In late 2008 the iview website video player was updated to allow for unmetering (zero-rating) by several Australian ISPs through network peering arrangements. The ISPs included Internode, iPrimus, Westnet, Apex Internet and Adam Internet. iiNet was able to offer iview unmetered without the peering upgrade. In addition, AARNet, Cinenet, and Comcen since offer unmetered access to iview. ABC TV live streams and content not streamed using Adobe Flash (i.e. through the iPad and Internet connected TVs) is currently not unmetered, however this may change in the future. In October 2016, Optus added ABC iview to their zero-rating offer for Optus mobile customers.