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BBC iPlayer viewership up by 22%: More Channels to Come on iPlayer Soon

The BBC iPlayer app saw a record viewership of 3 bn by the end of 2013. This is up by 22 per cent from 2012. There were 2.2 bn requests for BBC TV shows and 800 bn BBC radio requests. Top Gear was the most popular programme streamed through the app followed by Doctor Who and Bad Education.

London: There was a 104 per cent increase in requests to stream contents from tablets and 20 per cent of the total TV and radio iPlayer requests in December 2013 were from tablets. It was revealed by the network that more people watched iPlayer content on tablets than on computers through December 26 and 27.

However, PCs remained the single-most platform to watch iPlayer content in 2013 accounting for 43 per cent of requests each month. The iPlayer broadcast 271 million TV and radio requests in the month of December 2013; that is 25 per cent increase than in December 2012. Head of TV Content for BBC iPlayer Victoria Jaye said that in 2014 the firm will originate more exclusive programmes for iPlayer as well as offer an ambitious range of content to complete their biggest brands and events.

The BBC iPlayer was released in 2006 serving up select BBC TV and radio content and like the broadcast TV it is ad free. It is available on most platforms: Windows, OS X, iOS, Android, Wii, Xbox 360, Windows Phone 8, Playstation 4 and more.

BBC plans to revamp its iPlayer services with an aim to make it the best TV service in the world. It proposes to extend the services to other platforms like Smart TVs, set-top boxes, online and apps. In fact, with the next generation iPlayer services BBC plans to produce exclusive content, turning it in to a TV channel on its own. This means a bigger choice of shows to watch.

There will be more channels on the future iPlayer. More shows on educative stuff will be there. Also pop- up channels, like the Glastonbury, is mooted. With the new iPlayer, you will be able to put all your favourite channels in your own space and maintain a playlist where all the programmes are lined up according to your preference. Soon you will be able to watch some of BBC’s original TV programmes on the iPlayer even before it hits the terrestrial TV.