BBC Trust recently rejected BBC Network's plan to share the use of its iPlayer technology with other broadcasters.

The Trust said that while it supported the principle of sharing the iPlayer more widely, the network's plans would not deliver value to licence-fee payers. Also, according to the Trust, the proposals involving both commercial and public service elements were too complex and it was open to considering an alternative proposal.

Diane Coyle, chair of the BBC Trust's strategic approvals committee shared, "We concluded that the Open iPlayer plans in their proposed form, combining both commercial and public service elements, were too complicated. We were not convinced that there was enough potential value to licence-fee payers in the public service part of the proposal".

BBC Network's idea behind sharing the iPlayer technology was to help other channels after the digital switchover. Currently, ITV, Channel 4 and Five produce public service broadcasting in exchange for free access to the airwaves. The situation is all set to change post the switch to digital TV which will be complete by 2012. After the completion, the aforementioned channels will have to compete with scores of other media organizations, thereby finding it harder to produce a wide range of programs.

The iPlayer allows listeners and viewers to catch up on shows they might have missed, up until a week after broadcast. Under BBC's proposal, other TV networks could use the iPlayer technology to create their own versions.