BBC claims 3.5 million iPlayer views

15 January 2008

More than one million viewers have used the BBC's iPlayer service since its Christmas Day launch, watching a total of over 3.5 million programmes, the corporation says.

Traffic figures also show that eight times as many users are opting to stream programmes, rather than downloading them outright.

The corporation's 50 most popular shows made up only about half of those viewed through iPlayer. Ashley Highfield, director of future media and technology, said that it demonstrated "how on-demand services can bring niche programming to a wider audience".

The free service allows viewers to watch BBC programmes for seven days after transmission, or download them for viewing within 30 days. Along with rivals from Sky, Channel 4 and ITV, it forms part of broadcasters' strategies to put the internet at the heart of their content.

The news will be encouraging for the television industry, which is keen to avoid the problems that record companies have experienced with the switch to digital consumption. It comes as UK music publisher EMI has announced the loss of 1,500-2,000 jobs in a "fundamental restructuring".

Guy Hands, chairman of private equity firm Terra Firma, which owns the record label, said: "We have spent a long time looking intensely at EMI and the problems faced by its Recorded Music division which, like the rest of the music industry, has been struggling to respond to the challenges posed by a digital environment.

"The changes we are announcing today will ensure that this iconic company will be creating wonderful music in a way that is profitable and sustainable."

Category: Other, Social media, Video sharing