ITV Player to launch on PS3

UK commercial broadcaster ITV plans to launch its catch-up service ITV Player on Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles by the end of this year.

The deal, which ITV says is the first of its kind with a UK commercial broadcaster, will see the ITV Player made available to internet-connected PS3s. The move is part of a wider strategy to roll out the service to platforms beyond itv.com – including games consoles, TV- and mobile- based devices.

ITV Player on the PS3 will be free and funded by pre-, mid- and post-roll video advertising. The service will be available via software update.

Fru Hazlitt, ITV’s managing director of commercial and online, said: “Our viewers want the option to watch their favourite content when and where they choose so distributing the ITV Player, with our rich content, to platforms beyond itv.com will allow us to meet that demand. We’re really excited that they will soon be able to access the ITV Player on demand through the PS3 platform.”