UK broadcaster Channel 4 has released an iPad application for its catch-up TV service 4oD (4 on demand). The application is called “4oD Catch Up” and according to UTalk Marketing will be released for free initially, thanks to a sponsorship deal with brewers Heineken.
While the content will be available for no fee, the application will display advertisements during each programme, with 60 seconds Heineken adverts showing up before a programme begins. 4oD Catch Up will not work outside of the UK and does not allow US shows to be viewed, though this is set to change in the future.
The 4oD Catch Up application allows users to view content that has been shown on Channel 4 in the past month, this differs from the website version of 4oD which also has a full set of archived shows available for streaming.
Sarah Milton, the head of Video on Demand at Channel 4 said “Channel 4 has consistently led the way in on-demand viewing, and the launch of 4oD Catch Up on the iPad reflects our long-term strategy of building distribution on relevant platforms and devices to ensure 4oD is available where our audiences want to watch it.”
Channel 4 are not the first UK broadcaster to launch a catch up service on the iPad, back in January the BBC launched its full blown iPlayer application which has already been a great success despite lacking some features that the desktop version has, such as downloading content for viewing offline or at a later date.
The 4oD Catch Up iPad application launched today, initially on the iPad only with other iOS versions set to follow in the future. Techradar also mentions that 4oD are set to release a version of the service on Xbox LIVE in the coming months, alongside ITV Player.