[Technologist]

Of course…..
because it would never at the moment pass a PVT to become a Service.

I would suspect that it does already have the volume to pass that threshold. It doesn't need to be a linear channel with Freeview bandwidth, just an advertised service on iPlayer.

They're not pushing it, so people are unaware.

It is not volume that is required ….
Is the proposal seen as good value by the citizen
And is it good value for money ….
(And does it not distort the market)
See Diane Coyle’s seminal work
downloads.bbc.co.uk 

Sowhat makes it unlikely now ..(that is significant)

The BBC financial state with no LF increases for years and particularly in current
Uk economic situation no increase for 2 years ……

The current Launch of BBC One Regions HD on emissive platforms …
If this had not been possible see Distribution Strategy para 33
downloads.bbc.co.uk 
the concept of having a high res version of a (regional news) programme in IPlayer
Would make UHD versions far more acceptable.

Being permitted as part if a move to digital first to announce at the start of the transmitted programme that the UHD version can be seen on I-player at the same time
(I can remember the row over this …… it was not allowed ! )

What makes it more likely

Digital first ……
More people moving from emissive platforms to online
BBC having more money
Success of the free view/sat play platforms and larger take up
Having some thing for charter renewal

And behind the scenes the move away from AS11 delivery to IMF SMPTE ST 2067

PS what makes the real difference is HDR /WCG…… And it would be nice to have NGA but that really costs