BBC’s iPlayer service approved

The BBC has secured approval to go ahead with its iPlayer on-demand TV service which will allow viewers to download BBC programmes.

The BBC Trust, the BBC’s independent governing body, approved the service following a public value test (PVT) which received responses from around 10,500 individuals and organisations. The test demonstrated significant public support for iPlayer.

The trust concluded that the service would have limited market impact, dismissing concerns that iPlayer could have a detrimental effect on DVD retailers and commercial broadcasters.

iPlayer will initially allow users to download BBC programmes for up to seven days after broadcast and watch them for up to 30 days after download.

Selected series will be available to download in their entirety for 30 days after the final episode has been broadcast.

The iPlayer service will initially be available to those using Windows, although it will eventually be rolled out to Macs, cable TV services and Freeview boxes. The launch date for the service has not yet been announced.