What is BoB?

With BoB you can: 

  • Record TV and radio programmes from over 75 free-to-air channels 
  • Search an archive of over 2.2 million broadcasts dating back to the 1990s 
  • Stream broadcasts anywhere in the UK, anytime 
  • Share resources via Moodle and reading lists 
  • Create clips to use in lectures or send to students 
  • Save playlists of your favourite broadcasts and series 
  • Never miss a programme with a buffer of 30 days 

Access content from: 

  • BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, ITV, Channel 4, Film4 and more 
  • 10 foreign language channels: Italian, French and German 
  • BBC Shakespeare Archive content dating back to the 1950s 

BoB is only available in the UK. 

Accessing BoB

Sign in with your Manchester Metropolitan University ID and password. The first time you log in to BoB and follow a link, you will be asked to set up a BoB account. There are legal restrictions on the use of BoB content; please read the terms and conditions

Requesting a programme

Transcript:

While BoB captures every UK freeview channel by default, it will only retain a copy of each programme for approximately a month unless it’s requested by a user at which point it will either be saved to the permanent archive, or deleted entirely. The exceptions to this rule are BBC One, Two and Four, ITV, Channel 4 and More 4, Channel 5 and BBCs Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra which are all retained by default.  

Requesting a programme is as easy as the click of a button. You can do so either from the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) or by running a search and clicking ‘Request Programme’ on the results page.  

Once a programme’s been requested, BoB will make it ready for delivery, typically within 30 to 60 minutes, at which point you can find it under the REQUESTED tab in you’re MY BOB area. From here you can view, add it to playlist, and even make clips.

Clips

Transcript: 

Bob provides users with the ability to create clips from programmes. Once made, these can be found under the CLIPS tab in your MY BOB area, and can be added to playlists like any other programme. To create a clip, click MAKE CLIP button on the relevant programme’s page. This will enable slider controls on the viewing window’s play bar. Simply drag the IN and OUT points to their desired positions, click SAVE CLIP and give your clip a description.  

BoB provides a default title for clips, but these can be edited if needed.  

Clips you’ve created can be added to playlists via the ADD TO PLAYLIST button, and can be amended any time with the EDIT CLIP and EDIT CLIP DETAILS buttons.  

Setting reminders

As there is no series link on BoB it can be easy to miss an episode of a series. We do however have a service called TRILT in which you can set up reminders and TRILT will email you with details of the latest upcoming broadcasts. 

  • First you must log in to TRILT
  • You can set your preferences, including name and email address using the link found on the left hand side of the page under the heading MyBUFVC. This will allow TRILT to email any auto alerts you set. 
  • Search for the programme you wish TRILT to remind you about. You can refine your search if you’re looking for a programme on a particular channel, or a specific date for example. 
  • You will then be shown the listings for any future programmes associated with your search. From here you can save your search by clicking Save as auto alert, found on the left-hand side in the section headed Current Search. 
  • TRILT will email you on your preferred day and remind you when the next episode is on so you never forget to record your favourite series on BoB. 
Playlists

Transcript: 

One of BoB’s standout features is the ability to create playlists, allowing you to collect programmes and clips on specific subjects or areas of interest. Creating a playlist is simple and intuitive.  This can be done either by clicking the NEW PLAYLIST button under the PLAYLISTS tab in you’re MY BOB area, or directly from a programme page.  In either instance, when you click NEW PLAYLIST you’ll be presented with title and description fields. Inputting descriptions can be particularly useful if you plan making your playlists openly available to other BoB subscribers. You can toggle a playlist’s public visibility with the ‘Publicly available’ checkbox. 

Once you’re happy with your title and description, hit CREATE PLAYLIST. It will now appear under your PLAYLISTS tab.  

If you want to change a playlist’s details at any point, simply enter the playlist from your MY BOB area, and click EDIT PLAYLIST DETAILS.  

To add a TV or radio programme to a playlist, navigate to its programme page and hit the ADD TO PLAYLIST button, situated to the bottom left of the viewer window. Here you have the option to add an existing playlist or create a new one entirely. Note that creating a new playlist in this way, as opposed to in your MY BOB area, will automatically add the programme to that list.  

Clips can be added to playlists by using the EDIT LIST button under CLIPS in your MYBOB area. Doing so will enable a series of checkboxes on the page’s left-hand side. Simply check the clips as desired, hit the ADD TO PLAYLISTS button, then add to a new or existing list.  

To remove an item from from a playlist, select the list you wish to edit and hit the EDIT LIST button.  Just as in the previous example of adding clips, doing so will enable a series of checkboxes. Check whichever items you wish to delete, then click REMOVE. BoB will prompt you to confirm your choice, and if you’re happy click REMOVE once more. While this action can’t be undone once completed, you can of course re-add a deleted item using the methods already outlined.  

To delete a playlist entirely, the process is much the same. Navigate to the PLAYLISTS tab of you’re MY BOB area, click the EDIT LIST button, check the playlist or lists you wish to delete, hit REMOVE, and confirm your choice.  

FAQs

  • How do I add links to BoB in Moodle?

    • To add a video, radio broadcast, clip or playlist to Moodle first pick where you want the link to appear. Switch on editing and then click on Add an activity or resource. 

    • A box will appear to add a resource. Scroll down and select URL. Then click Add. 

    • Here you can add a title, a brief description (this will not be viewable as user will be taken straight to the BoB video) and the BoB programme page URL.  

    • Use the WAYFless link from the Share tab underneath the programme you wish to link to. 

    • In the options box select New window under Display. This will make sure that the BoB page opens as a separate window, leaving Moodle open in the background. Or you can select Automatic if you want the video to open in the same web page. 

    • Once this has been saved, your BoB link will appear in your Moodle area and is ready to use. 

    Please note: After following the link to BoB from a Moodle area, users will need to select Sign In, enter the name of their home institution, Manchester Metropolitan University and then enter their Manchester Met ID and password. 

  • How do I link to BoB in Aspire?

  • Do I need a TV licence to watch BBC programmes on BoB?

    You do not need a TV licence to only access BoB. However, if you watch BBC iPlayer or any live TV or radio as well as BoB, then you would need the licence.

  • Why do I receive a message on BoB saying ''Content not Available"?

    BoB added iOS compatibility during a major upgrade in January 2014. The significant change that allowed this was switching from flash encoded files to MP4. The drawback of this was that all content recorded before the upgrade remained in flash. All clips are also encoded in flash. 

    The most likely reason the error message presents itself is that the browser flash plugin needs to be enabled or updated. You may have recently had an automatic update that has defaulted your security settings to block flash content. The other way to check would be to try and access BoB using an entirely different browser. Google Chrome is the recommended browser as they have their own inbuilt flash player.

  • Does copyright apply to BoB clips?

    Yes. Please see the Box of Broadcasts terms and conditions.   

    For help with using BoB, please contact the Library:

    [email protected]

    +44(0)161 247 6106