ABC catches on to Android growth

The ABC has released a new version of its Android app in response to a consumer shift towards Android devices, and hopes to launch an Android version of its popular iview media player before the year is out.

"Android is a very high priority on our agenda. We are still working on some of the distribution and content requirements, and hope to make iview work on Android by the end of the year," said Arul Baskaran, multiplatform controller with ABC TV

Active usage of the ABC's flagship Android app has increased 360 percent in the 12 months to May, and Android users now represent 35 percent of all mobile browsers on ABC Online, according to the organisation's data.

But audiences have been left waiting for an Android version of iview.

“We get a lot of feedback from our audience members asking us to produce more Android apps and we are putting more resources into mobile this year to enable us to better service all mobile users,” ABC director of innovation Angela Clark said in a statement.

The ABC last year forced the take down of a third-party application that enabled people to download and watch programs offered on its iview service on Android devices.

The Python-iview application, which had been available for more than two years, allowed people to download and playback later, programs offered via iview.

At the time it told application developer Jeremy Visser the application breached its iview terms of use, and threatened legal action. Supporters likened the application to a VCR, Fetch TV or Tivo recording service, in which case personal viewing is protected under the Copyright Act.

The ABC disagreed, arguing Python-iview breached section 101(1) of the Copyright Act by providing the means to allow users to permanently download and store ABC iview content without permission.