New iPlayer for connected TVs

The BBC has announced plans to build the presence of iPlayer on TV sets. The public broadcaster has launched a new version of its catch-up platform for TVs, with PlayStation 3 users the first to benefit.

The new version of the on-demand catch-up platform offers a simplified and intuitive user interface designed to replicate the experience of flicking through TV channels. It also offers improved search and recommendation engines, and gives users the chance to select a list of favourite programmes and view previous search results.

Use of iPlayer, which delivered eight billion programme views last year, is still dominated by PCs but the public broadcaster has seen TV viewing increase five-fold in the last three months. Users can watch iPlayer on over three million connected devices, including TVs, Blu-ray players, set-top boxes and games consoles. The new version of iPlayer for connected TVs has launched on PlayStation 3 and will roll out to other devices in the coming months.

Daniel Danker, BBC’s general manager, programmes and on demand, said: “BBC iPlayer has been tremendously successful. With today’s announcement, we’re transforming iPlayer in its most natural home: right on the living room TV. By creating a product that’s as simple and intuitive as flicking through TV channels, the BBC is bringing on-demand television to mainstream audiences across the UK.