To print: Click here or Select File and then Print from your browser's menu

This story was printed from silicon.com, located at http://www.silicon.com/

Story URL: http://networks.silicon.com/webwatch/0,39024667,39226413,00.htm

BBC iPlayer hits 75 million downloads
The Apprentice and Dr Who give it a boost...

By Tim Ferguson

Published: Tuesday 20 May 2008

The BBC iPlayer online on demand TV service has hit 75 million in streamed or downloaded programmes since it launched last year.

According to BBC figures, iPlayer enjoyed another month of growth in April with around 21 million programme requests - a 20 per cent increase on March.

BBC iPlayer: Latest coverage

♦  BBC plugs iPlayer hack loophole

♦  BBC iPlayer lands on iPhone

♦  Cheat Sheet: BBC iPlayer

♦  BBC iPlayer gets 3.5 million hits

♦  Open sourcers welcome BBC iPlayer for Linux

♦  BBC signs up with iTunes

♦  BBC's iPlayer is go

♦  BBC iPlayer sparks broadband row

♦  16,000 back iPlayer petition

♦  Leader: Time for a ceasefire in iPlayer row

Average users per week were 1.4 million - up 300,000 on March and almost double January's figure.

The most requested programmes were The Apprentice and Doctor Who, although programmes shown on BBC Three had a strong showing with six appearing in the top 20.

There was also a 'long tail effect', with around a quarter of total programme consumption being made up of programmes outside the top 20.

In terms of platforms, 10 per cent of programme requests came from Apple Mac users and three per cent from those using the iPhone or iPod Touch.

There was initial criticism of iPlayer due to it only being available on the Windows XP platform, but the BBC has worked to introduce the service on other platforms such as Virgin Media.

iPlayer's popularity has also raised concerns from ISPs who claim the explosion in online content could overload their networks.