iPlayer viewing figures break records

The iPlayer received 88.2 million programme requests in the past month as it approaches its second birthday, according to figures released by the BBC.

It now averages more requests per month than it got in its first five months of existence and receives five million requests for radio and TV programmes per week.

The most popular programme on the iPlayer is Top Gear, with the episodes from the 13th series being streamed 1.67 million times in the past 12 months.

Episodes from the 14th series were streamed 1.3 million times. Other popular shows included Gavin and Stacey and Question Time.

After launching officially on Christmas Day 2007 after several months in beta, the service is now available in more than 20 devices, though 86 per cent of programme requests come from desktop computers, said the BBC.

Erik Huggers, director of Future Media and Technology at the BBC, said: "BBC iPlayer has gone from strength to strength this year, with tens of millions of views each month.

"Whether it's watching EastEnders on your PC during your lunch break, listening to Desert Island Discs on the bus or watching Mock The Week in bed, viewing patterns change depending on the time and location of the audience," he continued.

The BBC said that many Christmas films will be available on iPlayer too. Movies including The Incredibles, Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End and the Oscar-winning La Vie En Rose will all be available on the service.


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