The word is officially back in, folks–apparently the move to iPlayer for the Xbox has been shut down “indefinitely”.  Why, you wonder?  Well, here’s the word straight from the source:

Microsoft only wants to offer its users access to platforms it can charge for as this is the model it is pursuing. It wants to ensure that only those paying for Xbox Live Gold accounts can access its additional content services and even then there is usually a charge on top to get access to those. For example, to access the Sky Player on Xbox, you have to pay for a Gold subscription as well as a Sky subscription,” explained one of the sources close to the BBC.

Raw greed much, Microsoft? Look, I know you’re getting a little desperate here.  The Sony PS3 is no longer a bad joke and is making some gains on your territory.  The overall economic picture is still bleaker than a Nathaniel Hawthorne novel and we’re all trying to figure out what shoe will drop next.  But keeping BBC off your systems because you can’t charge for it is a bad idea.

One, you can run advertising over it (and with no problem as far as I know) and make your money that way.  Two, it’s not really competing with any of your other channel concepts last I knew, so what’s the difference?  You’ll just get a broader appeal.  Three, this just looks like a first class dick move, guys.  I mean, come ON–refuse your audience access to content because it’s FREE?

Speaks for itself.