Humax adds "red button" iPlayer feature to set-top boxes

Owners of Humax Freesat boxes will now be able to access the BBC iPlayer catch-up TV service using the red button on their remote control thanks to a new on-demand functionality previously only available for private beta testers.

Those with either a Foxsat-HD Freesat set-top box or a Foxsat-HDR Freesat hard disk recorder will be able to access iPlayer provided the set-top box is hooked up the home broadband router via Ethernet as a network connection is essential.

In separate iPlayer news Microsoft MSN Video has just launched a free catch-up TV feature to compete with the Beeb's own service.

With around 1,000 hours worth of programming, catching up with MSN's video player will be free but users will have to sit through 30-second advertisements before, during and after each programme.

Last summer Microsoft aquired licenses for 300 hours of BBC Worldwide content as well as All3Media shows bring the likes of Mock the Week, Peep Show and Shameless to its service. However, from this Thursday it will be adding more shows to its catalogue of content.

Although the iPlayer is currently one of the most popular websites in the UK MSN Video boss Ashley Highfield (who previously had responsibility for the development of BBC iPlayer), is confident MSN Video will be the preferred catch-up TV choice in the near future. Commenting on the fact the average MSN viewer stayed tuned for 25 minutes he said: "That is significantly higher than ITV and Channel 4's online TV services, which suggests we are kitting the mark with our choice of content for the service."

Microsoft is currently in talks with some major film studios and has revealed it hopes to bring a batch of movie content to the service in the near future.

However online catch-up TV could be dramatically changing over the next couple of years if a major TV project backed by some of the UK's most influential broadcasters and broadband providers gets the go-ahead.

The BBC is currently awaiting permission from its own regulatory body to pass a new web video service which will offer on-demand content over a broadband content. Known as Project Canvas, this service is a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BT and Carphone Warehouse.