Over 17 million programmes were watched or downloaded on demand via the iPlayer in the first seven weeks since it launched officially on Christmas Day.

During January, more than 2.2 million people watched a programme on BBC iPlayer, with approximately 11 million TV programmes streamed or downloaded on demand.

Ashley Highfield, director of BBC Future Media and Technology, said: "While it's still early days, early indications are that BBC iPlayer is having a significant effect in attracting new users to bbc.co.uk."

The BBC iPlayer lets you either stream or download BBC programming on demand. Streaming lets you view programmes from the previous seven days instantly, while those who download can keep the programmes for up to 30 days.

It was recently announced that a version of the BBC iPlayer application that lets Mac users download TV programmes from the web will be launched this year.

Mac owners can currently stream BBC programmes over the web using the iPlayer application but they cannot currently download them to watch at their leisure.

The BBC also offers TV programmes on iTunes which can be purchased for £1.89 an episode and then viewed on a Mac or PC, iPod with video, iPhone or Apple TV.

BBC iPlayer Top 10 (25/12/07 to 12/02/08)

1 Doctor Who
2 Louis Theroux Behind Bars
3 Torchwood
4 Ashes To Ashes
5 Torchwood
6 Six Nations Rugby
7 Top Gear
8 Mistresses
9 Mistresses
10 Torchwood

What shows do you watch on the BBC iPlayer? Share your thoughts in the Web User Forums.

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