BBC launches iPlayer

The BBC has launched its on-demand TV service, iPlayer, as part of its internet TV strategy and to meet the growing interest in television on demand.

The corporation has made a beta version of the service available to the public, just two months after securing approval for iPlayer from the BBC Trust.

The service will only be available in the UK. It will initially be a peer-to-peer on-demand download service but users will be able to stream content after the marketing launch this autumn.

iPlayer will allow users to download programmes for up to seven days after they have been transmitted. The downloaded shows will be available to watch for 30 days after being downloaded. They will then be deleted.

The service will include 400 hours of BBC programming per month.

iPlayer will be available from bbc.co.uk and through partnerships with sites such as Facebook, MSN and YouTube.

The BBC is also working with Virgin Media to allow the service to be viewed on a television screen. A cable TV service could be launched later this year.

iPlayer is initially only compatible with PCs, but a version for Macs is under development.