iPlayer serves 3.5 million programmes

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 15 Jan 2008 at 08:34

A quarter of a million programmes are being watched every day on the BBC's iPlayer service, claims the broadcaster.

Since the launch of its online streaming service on Christmas day, 3.5 million programmes have been served on iPlayer to a million unique users.

Streaming shows has proven to be eight times more popular with users than downloading using the standalone application.

"Typically, people who use the BBC iPlayer are spending nearly half an hour a day watching streams of their favourite programmes, suggesting that it looks set to revolutionise the way BBC Television programmes are viewed in the UK," says Ashley Highfield, director of BBC Future Media and Technology.

The ten most popular programmes account for just under a quarter of views, including the Doctor Who Christmas Special, the Extras Christmas Special and Top Gear.

While the popularity of the service is good news for the BBC, ISPs may be less keen. Last month Ofcom claimed the cost of upgrading infrastructure to cope with traffic from the service could cost £830 million by 2011, and suggested that the broadcaster should pay a "congestion charge".

Click here to read our full preview of the iPlayer.