We all know how the BBC iPlayer does not support the Mac platform. What a cheek, especially considering the use of 'i' in the name of their Windows only player. Well, I wanted to search out some content to play on my Mac and a lot of Channel 4 programmes make me laugh (the IT Crowd springs to mind). Well, guess what? The Channel 4 On Demand service is not Mac compatible either, so I emailed them asking for an explanation, here is their reply;
"Unfortunately we cannot say when the 4oD service will be available to users of other platforms, including Mac OS and Linux. The problem is, our content providers (e.g. the production companies who make our shows), insist on using a DRM licensing system.
The DRM (Digital Rights Management) system basically protects the video content from duplication and broadcast outside the UK & ROI. Currently they insist on using Microsoft's DRM, and because of this we can only support Microsoft operating systems.
Linux currently has no such DRM system available and so our content providers will not allow us to support the Linux operating system. Macintosh do have a solution, however the closed DRM system used by Apple is not currently available for licence by third parties and there is no other Mac-compatible DRM solution which meets the protection requirements of our
content owners. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to offer 4oD and other video content to Mac users at this stage.
We are sorry to disappoint on this occasion and assure you that if changes throughout the industry happen, as we would like, we will ensure the support of other operating systems."
If you require further information, visit http://help.channel4.com/4oD/ - plus I urge you to email them too and ask for a Mac compatible player.