The BBC are developing a piece of software called iPlayer, that will allow people who hold a TV Licence to watch brodcasts up to 7 days after their original transmission by downloading them through the BBC's software. This is a great idea, and shows the BBC are competing with the likes of Channel 4's On Demand service. It'll be free, and they've worked hard with the owners of the programmes to make sure they can bring as much as possible to the service. However, there is a major problem: iPlayer will require Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer. The BBC's remit states the following:

If a particular part of their service requires the purchase of hundreds of pounds worth of software to use, this does not seem particularly free of commercial interests.

The BBC cite 2 main reasons: DRM and a low user proportion.

I can understand why they need to use DRM (to satisfy the copyright holders), but the BBC have always been innovators of new technology, and surely they could work to develop a useable system for Linux, the Mac and other OSs? A low user base of around 5% of computer users is not a real excuse either. This proprtion is always growing, and the BBC provide other services used by a lower proportion of people than this.

What are your opinions on this? Should the BBC be forced to allow Linux and Mac users like myself to use the service too, or should it just be open to Windows users?