iPlayer could listen to check your kids have gone to bed before suggesting adult programmes The next generation BBC iPlayer could listen to the voices of people sitting on a sofa and suggest programmes to […]

The next generation BBC iPlayer could listen to the voices of people sitting on a sofa and suggest programmes to watch.

The BBC is partnering with Microsoft to explore how voice signatures, or voiceprints, could work on an experimental version of iPlayer.

The BBC wants to create a more personalised iPlayer to compete with voice-operated devices such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant.

i's TV newsletter: what you should watch next Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

The future iPlayer could learn viewer preferences from conversations with users who sign in to use the platform through their voice.

A BBC video says the iPlayer might be able to recognise if a viewer is sitting on a sofa with their partner in front of a screen. It could intervene and suggest watching the next episode of a favourite show.

If it detects you’re watching with children, it might suggest family-friendly shows. But if its voice sensors spot that the kids have gone to bed, the BBC suggested it could recommend more “adult” content.

‘listening to voices’

Cyrus Saihan, BBC Head of Digital Partnerships, wrote in a blog: “Just by listening to the voices in the room, your TV could automatically detect when there are multiple people in the living room, and serve up a personalised mix of content relevant to all of you in the room.

“When your children leave the room to go to bed, BBC iPlayer might hear that the children are no longer there and then suggest a different selection of content for you and your partner.

“All of this personalisation could happen without anyone having to press a button, sign in and out or change user profiles.”

A BBC spokesman added: “This is an internal experiment to help us better understand these technologies, not a new service we’re planning on launching.”

@adamsherwin10