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The BBC today launches a brand new version of iPlayer that is tailored specifically for TVs. BBC iPlayer is a video-on-demand service, offering UK users the chance to catch up on TV and radio broadcasts they have missed, as well as watch and listen to live streams from across BBC’s various channels. The service is available on computers, Internet TVs, mobile phones, tablets and games consoles. The BBC iPlayerfirstarrived on TV screens with Virgin Media back in 2008, but the new version is designed specifically for the living room, and includes a simplified, TV-friendly interface that is more akin to navigating a traditional TV with a remote control....

The BBC has launched a ‘Labs‘ version of its online Radio homepage, which aims to make users’ journey from the main radio portal to individual stations much simpler. The current Radiohomepageserves a number of different purposes – it can be used to navigate directly to a radio station’s website, or it can be used as a listening destination in itself via a pop-out console. This new homepage will present the stations’ most recent and popular on-demand programmes, with clipped highlights where available....

The issue of sound balance in any given broadcast is likely to divide opinion. In sports commentary for example, some may like their commentary as audible as possible, whilst others may prefer to savor the sounds of the crowd and the athletes. Others, it’s probably fair to say, have never given the subject a second’s thought. One of the problems here is that the experience is entirely subjective and broadcasters can’t cater for everyone....

While many people already play around with their mobile phones or tablets while watching TV, perhaps following discussion about the show on Twitter, the BBC is doing some fascinating R&D work which could help mobile devices become more useful ‘second screens’ for television. The Orchestrated Media project is working to display relevant, supporting content for the show you’re watching, in sync with the show. So, a documentary on dinosaurs may display information about the beasts currently depicted on screen, or a news broadcast could display detailed information about the current story without you having to look for it....

The BBC today announced the public beta launch of a new initiative to bring the UK’s entire collection of oil paintings to the Internet for the first time. Even if you’re an art-lover and have trawled the length and breadth of the country’s galleries and museums, there’s still a good chance that thousands of paintings have escaped your eyes. As the BBCreports: “The UK has tens of thousands of paintings in its publicly funded museums and institutions that are not currently viewable by the public, either because they are in storage or are kept in buildings that are inaccessible to the general public....