4 on Demand coming to PS3?

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 6 August, 2010

We is excited, innit.

Channel 4's free telly service, which includes The Ali G Show, The Inbetweeners and Fonejacker, could come to the PlayStation 3.

Talks between Sony and Channel 4 are at an early stage, apparently.

4 on Demand, which works like the BBC iPlayer – already on the PS3 – includes world class shows Hollyoaks, Deal or No Deal, and... Gulp... Location, Location, Location.

Channel 4 is currently looking to take its on demand digital service to other platforms following its success on Virgin Media's on demand service and YouTube, and Sony's PS3 could be one of them, TechRadar reports.

If true, Channel 4 would be the first commercial TV station to come to the PS3.

The report is based on an article in Broadcast magazine.

"We're looking to launch on the PS3," a source said.

"4oD is becoming a platform agnostic product and will be successful because of the quality of the content."

Carmel McQueen agrees.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (68) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • AllenSpawn #1 2 years ago

    Thank god. There's about 257 episodes of location, location I missed.
    I would so love to catch up;)

  • The-Bodybuilder #2 2 years ago

    Do you read that MS? You f*cking greedy clowns.
    Give us our money's worth of gold subs and stop being such tight arses. Let silvers have it too, ya'tosseeeeerrrrrrrrssss!!!!!

    Edit: I wanna watch the in-betweeners on my x360 too.
    Edited by 1 at 06/08/10 @ 15:42

  • Mkwone #3 2 years ago

    Doesn't seesaw work on the PS3 browser?

  • Gromit #4 2 years ago

    There are some good documentaries on 4 once in a while, plus you've got Hollyoa..... Just kidding!

    If it's free and works as well as the iPlayer, I'm all for it.

  • sfp_noodle #5 2 years ago

    @ TheBodybuilder

    Unfortunately, MS won't let anyone make money off their service unless they get a cut themselves. Not only that, they want to make free services only available to Gold Subscribers. Which is why stuff like Sky Player and Netflix is there and BBC iPlayer is not.
    Edited by 1 at 06/08/10 @ 15:44

  • barkertron #6 2 years ago

    Hollyoaks makes me want to pour hot lava into my eyes.

  • SYS64738 #7 2 years ago

    A place in the sun - home or away shits all over location location location.

    LET THE FANBOI WARS BEGIN!

  • JimWest #8 2 years ago

    I'd smash the backend out of Carmel McQueen.

  • Kazzahdrane #9 2 years ago

    Seriously: Relocation, Relocation is way better.

  • SYS64738 #10 2 years ago

    "Seriously: Relocation, Relocation is way better."

    TAKE THAT BACK OR ELSE.

  • byakuya83 #11 2 years ago

    i think the iplayer is great on my ps3. i have a 8mbit connection and run it wirelessly and the quality fullscreen is better than standard digital television, which is great considering i don't have an aerial. don't think there is anything on channel 4 i'd be interested in watching but it's nice to be given the choice. it's terrible really that xbox doesn't have iplayer. does it even have youtube?

  • ignatiusjreilly #12 2 years ago

    4oD is actually awesome. It doesn't just have the latest TV shows you might have missed, but has a huge back-catalogue of older stuff and entire seasons of shows. It's very nice indeed.

  • TriggerHippie #13 2 years ago

    Its Seanie's Show, la-la la-la

  • Paulie_P #14 2 years ago

    Don't forget - it has E4 programs too. Skins, Peep Show, even their American imports (which are admittedly available elsewhere but the connections on 40d are more reliable), the IT Crowd and lots more.

    The ads on it are annoying though, you only get a couple per episode but it seems to be the same ones all the time so they get old fast.

    Hope this comes to PS3 as its great to watch it on a tv instead of my laptop (couldn't be arsed hooking the hdmi cable to my tv - theres too much wires around so it becomes a hassle).

  • mumblyjoe #15 2 years ago

    This is awesomeness. Theres tons of great programs on 4. Father Ted, The IT crowd, The inbetweeners, peep show, eurotrash :D grand designs, any program with Sarah Beeny in to name but a few.

    Not forgetting countdown ;)
    Edited by 1 at 06/08/10 @ 16:22

  • ryandsimmons #16 2 years ago

    You talk about the Ali G Show and fail to mention the entire run of Father Ted is on 4oD?

    You make me sick Eurogamer!
    Edited by 1 at 06/08/10 @ 16:22

  • jtodroc #17 2 years ago

    Holy shit, I just seen that 4oD actually works in Ireland. NICE ONE :)

    iplayer doesn't but I'd much rather watch Father Ted than Eastenders any day!

  • tomkuryakin #18 2 years ago

    Oh, does 4oD actually work now? Last time I tried using it, it was extremely frustrating just trying to download one old episode of Hill Street Blues.

  • kangarootoo #19 2 years ago

    "makes me want to pour hot lava"

    Is there any other kind? ;)

  • mrStones #20 2 years ago

    Only just found out that there are ads on 4od.

    *Hugs Adblockerplus

  • lcmnick #21 2 years ago

    Sorry Wesley, but you're being unfairly harsh on 4oD.

    Father Ted, Brass Eye, Teachers, Shameless....they have amazing stuff on 4oD.

  • irve77 #22 2 years ago

    Well this will make me buy a PS3 , it's finally turning into the media centre it always should have been
    4od basically has 90% of the programs i watch on in.

    Be warned Microsoft if i have the choice between buying a game with Free online vs paid for i'm gonna think long and hard over that one ... especially as PS3 versions of games are almost always nearly identical to the 360 ones

    I will stay stuck on 29k gamerscore and start building trophies instead ... hell i might even drop sky .. who needs sky+ when i'll have as much on demand tv as i can handle !

  • YenRug #23 2 years ago

    Correct me if I'm wrong, or it's been updated since I last tried it, but isn't the iPlayer on PS3 just a webpage running in the system's browser? It's not like the Wii, where they've created an actual proper module that you install. I recall trying the PS3 iPlayer not long after I got it and realised the output was miles better on the Wii version; if 4OD is going to be on PS3, I hope they do it properly, a la iPlayer on Wii.

  • Xardan #24 2 years ago

    This might make me jealous of ps3 owners if channel 4 television wasnt 90% tripe.

  • bladdard #25 2 years ago

    Youtube already works on PS3 through the browser and youtube has a 4OD channel so you can get a lot of the content already.

    It's still a good thing mind, if only the PS3 had wireless N and was capable of HD streaming.

  • bladdard #26 2 years ago

    @YenRug

    You're wrong!

  • Eraserhead #27 2 years ago

    Bladdard: does it work though? Every time I've tried 4oD through the YouTube "Shows" thing, it crashes. I mean literally - it actually manages to lock up my PS3 so I have to reset it. Is it just me?

  • lucky_jim #28 2 years ago

    @jtodroc

    Holy shit, I just seen that 4oD actually works in Ireland. NICE ONE :)

    iplayer doesn't but I'd much rather watch Father Ted than Eastenders any day!

    Why do you need to watch Father Ted in Ireland, can't you just go outside? Or do you mean to tell me it's not a 100% accurate depiction of Irish life? Please don't tell me that, it'd ruin my day. :)

  • mahogany #29 2 years ago

    Microsoft really need to start pulling their finger out. Sure they have sky player, but lets be honest, thats awful and you have to pay stupid amounts for anything of interest unless you have sky broadband.

    iPlayer, 4oD and lovefilm are now only going to be on PSN and not Live? Didn't Microsoft see how well getting Netflix worked for them? I reeeeally want lovefilm on a console and I'm pretty sure a proper app thing by Microsoft would be superior to the browser based one I expect from Sony, but good on Sony for getting it I suppose.

    Poor show MS, I can see the value proposition of Gold in the US v the PS3, I'm starting to see it less and less over here.

  • kobashi #30 2 years ago

    MS should be offering this and BBC iplayer for free but on a personal level I am not really bothered as I would never use them as I already just use my Sky HD box or all my TV needs. Plus BBC and 4 dont really have many shows I am even interested in if I am being honest. Anyway MS and sky should be now working towards HD streaming!

    Also with MS having the deal with Sky in place does that mean that a deal would lovefilm wouldnt even be possible?
    Edited by 1 at 06/08/10 @ 17:20

  • Pedrolot #31 2 years ago

    Carmel McQueen...

    Id hit that so hard only the true king of England could pull me out!

  • smurphs #32 2 years ago

    I watch iplayer on the Wii, and it's better than through my PC. I'd love 4oD on the Wii too please, if only for the IT Crowd.

  • supermaniacs #33 2 years ago

    Brass eyes and The inbetweeners!! SOLD!!!

  • androidave #34 2 years ago

    You do know 4oD is already on the ps3 through youtube using the browser?.. If it anything like Iplayer on the ps3 all they'l do is put a link to the 4oD youtube channel on the xmb?... I'm not saying thats a bad thing, just we already have it :)

  • mumblyjoe #35 2 years ago

    4od also has The Daily Show and The Big Bang Theory

  • Wyrm #36 2 years ago

    Peep Fucking Show

    Father Fucking Ted

    Fucking SPACED!!!

  • Iain815 #37 2 years ago

    You know it probably won't have the back catalogue if it is fully integrated. I remember when I got Virgin Media being dead excited about being able to watch old Father Ted, only to be disappointed to find they only run shows from the past week.

  • bladdard #38 2 years ago

    @Eraserhead

    I've only tried it once and it stuttered a bit but that's more to do with my wifi router, didn't crash though.

  • hilts #39 2 years ago

    @ pedrolot - LOL!! Fave McQueen eh?
    This would be a good move - only realised the other day they had a big back catalogue unlike iplayer!

  • RodHull #40 2 years ago

    I've got a ps3 and Virgin Media and Iplayer on PS3 is very poor when compared to virgin's service, more similar to YouTube SD in quality. I'd be surprised if this was down to my connection as the ps3 is hard wired to my router and have a rock solid 20mb connection.

    Hopefully 4od will be of better quality of course and the fact that the ps3 has this service whereas the 360 only has Sky and BT speaks volumes over how MS treats its customers.

  • NotSoSlim #41 2 years ago

    Plus we all know Sky will end up on PS3.

    So the could have BBC iPlayer, 4OD and Sky!! The get ITV Player and Sony are totally complete for tv services. MS need to shape up and stop penalising Silver users

  • vizzini #42 2 years ago

    Putting to one side the demand for 4oD content in the UK, this is actually a very sweat deal to help Channel 4 reach new audiences in the Internet TV land grab.

    Building customized web tv services with adverts, optimised for the ps3 browser and getting an XMB bookmark from Sony in return, is a great way to sell Channel 4 content on DVD, Blu-ray and the PSN Movie channel. Iplayer should also go the free route on a global basis to indirectly sell boxed products and content.

    If this happens for 4oD, I can see ITV and Channel 5 following suit very soon; as the Playstation XMB gives worldwide exposure in new markets that money just can’t buy.
    The benefit to Sony is obviously that it is extra content, diverse and made to high production standards which could add console sales in places like the US; continuing to feed the mantra to parents, grand parents and gamers alike, that “Playstation only does everything”.

  • SilentNinja92 #43 2 years ago

    If theyve got episodes of Everybody loves raymond and Frasier on there, Im very happy indeed, some of the funniest shows ive ever watched.

  • TommyBread #44 2 years ago

    Dont forget garrh marenghis Darkplace and Man To Man with Dean Learner id on 4oD, a must to see.

  • dunlop #45 2 years ago

    You can watch every episode of Green Wing on 4od, if you haven't seen it GO WATCH IT NAO!

  • Acrid #46 2 years ago

    Not for you Xbox people

  • alcides #47 2 years ago

    Television is actually worth more than two shits in Britain. I remember being mesmerized by BBC adaptations of Shakespearean plays, novels by Austen, Father Ted of course, but also Rosemary and Thyme, which I loved although I'm a young bloke. I was scandalized upon discovering Guernsey didn't have Five!!

    French TV... well, it's french.

  • 32768Colours #48 2 years ago

    Given that there's relative parity software-wise on the two consoles, for me at least, it's nice little features like this that give the PS3 an edge.

    Sadly as much as I'd love 4OD and iPlayer through my telly I only own a 360 so not much chance of that. Thanks Microsoft!

  • Qwan #49 2 years ago

    I know it is not the same, but I hope this will lead onto Channel 4 making a deal to put Film 4 on the PS3, as that would make my day! (although it would take money away from PS Movie menu so this is probably a no)

  • alcides #50 2 years ago

    @tigerstyle

    "Gnag gnah gnah I gat mur muney for my barthday than you dayd."

    Severe case of cunt here.

  • callum9999 #51 2 years ago

    vizzini- making iPlayer free worldwide would cost an absolute fortune, probably so much that the BBC would have to shut down UK services to fund it. Their programmes are already promoted on their various international tv channels/sold on to others anyway.

  • K1LLAY #52 2 years ago

    Ah, but can you watch repeats of GamesMaster? Bits? And other such retro computer game shows that nobody cares about a nymore...

  • RodHull #53 2 years ago

    @trebal

    What I was getting at was that the PS3 has free on demand services whereas the 360 requires not only a Gold account but also a Sky subscription.

  • lavalant #54 2 years ago

    I feel my Xbox Live Gold subscription is an utter rip off now, maybe if you're a yank and you get netflix and other media services it's worth it but everyone else is still paying their £40(rrp) simply to play online, as for Sky on the xbox, it's just a glorified second set top box, you still have to pay for Gold AND Sky. It's the only console out there that you have to pay to play.

  • awb83 #55 2 years ago

    This is great news, hope it happens.

  • razzastuta #56 2 years ago

    This is brilliant news. iPlayer is outstanding on the PS3 and I've recently been using Blinkbox on it for old Doctor Who episodes as well. Bring on 4oD.

  • TheBoyChris #57 2 years ago

    To be fair, they've got Come Dine With Me which is absolute class.

  • Tyronne #58 2 years ago

    no mention of `mr don and mr george`? this saddens me :(

  • Lawlost #59 2 years ago

    Microsoft are money grabbing gits. Apparently they will not do deals with either the BBC or Channel 4 because they don't get a revenue stream from it. The longer you hold out M$ the more attractive both the Wii and PS3 look and the fewer sales you will get wake up and smell the coffee!!!

  • 32768Colours #60 2 years ago

    @ Introvertigo

    Ah really? That's where I've been going wrong then!

    To be honest, I can get all the on demand stuff through my laptop anyway, but watching it through a console that's connected to the big telly would be a lot nicer. Its not so much the catch-up aspect of these services that interests me, but the classic stuff like Father Ted that you would otherwise have to go out and buy on DVD. In that respect its an absolute bargain. Fair play to Sony understanding the value of these services. Pity MS have to be so tight-fisted about it.

  • lavalant #61 2 years ago

    ^^I don't understand that logic, they get revenue from gold subscribers, and it's certainly a no frills service, even the DS has iPlayer.

  • citizenHUNTER #62 2 years ago

    WIll be nice having the choice, but as I think others have probably mentioned here (sorry I haven't read all of the comments thus far), hopefully the quality will be much better than iPlayer seems to be for me on my PS3, which has nothing to do with the net connection (can stream HD on my 360 and watch films on my PS3 near instantaneously as well). Seems like the flash player or whatever it uses is not as high quality with iPlayer as it is on my Mac.

    Also, does anyone watching 4OD think the quality on PC is utterly atrocious??? It's serviceable at best, but not up to enough quality to be able to watch something you REALLY want to see if you want to see it in good quality vision and sound. HOpefully the PS3 can somehow get a better quality version of 4OD but I doubt it...

  • Kerome #63 2 years ago

    Yeah, kinda agree that MS could learn a few tricks here... If PS3 starts carrying all the TV-on-demand services, a bunch of internet services like Last.fm, some MMO's and maybe some integrated Google stuff and brings it all for free as soon as you hook up a DSL line, well, that's a pretty compelling package.

  • DuncDisorderly #64 2 years ago

    Mmmm - Kirsty Allsop - I'd smash her pasty.

  • YenRug #65 2 years ago

    @bladdard

    What exactly have I got wrong?

    Just to check, I've just run up my PS3 and loaded the iPlayer.

    Guess what? When it's opening you can see the website URL along the top of the window, indicating that it's using the web browser. When you go to exit, it asks: "Do you want to close the browser?"

    If you're questioning my opinion that the Wii version produces a better image, well, it's just an opinion. All I know is, when I first got my PS3 I ran up the iPlayer and even in just the normal sized video window I could really see how bad the picture was; it was blocky, there were artifacts, it was just bad compression. I then ran up my Wii and loaded the same programme, even when I blew it up to full screen it looked like I was watching the normal SD broadcast.

    So, a choice between the normal browser based playback, or a dedicated program installed on a console? I would like to see an installed program on the PS3, that's the point that I was making, rather than running a video in a web browser.

  • mossychops001 #66 2 years ago

    Farther Ted and Peep show, yes please...

  • spookyzombie #67 2 years ago

    Last months Official Playstation Magazine said they were in talks with ITV regarding their ITV Player. Let's have them all please.

  • TheSnotGoblin #68 2 years ago

    Ran a HDMI lead from my PC to my telly recently and 4OD is the business. Been working my way backwards through 15 seasons of Time Team mixed up with a little Banzai.