International launch for BBC iPlayer

Since the BBC iPlayer was launched three years ago the service has gone from strength to strength.

Not content with offering the iPlayer on everything from smartphones to Internet-connected TVs, the BBC now has geographic expansion in its sights.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, BBC Director-General Mark Thompson revealed plans for an international rollout of the iPlayer within the year.

The BBC is calling the rollout a commercial venture but whether the service will be ad supported or offered on a subscription basis is not yet clear.

In a separate piece of iPlayer news, Sony has announced the addition of an iPlayer widget to its Vaio laptops, making it quicker and easier to access live and on-demand content.