30 days catch-up window comes to BBC iPlayer and BBC iPlayer Radio
Audiences are now able to enjoy their favourite BBC TV and radio programmes on BBC iPlayer and BBC iPlayer Radio for 30 days.
Published: 6 October 2014
Extending the catch up window to 30 days now makes the best value on-demand service even better. We have a fantastic autumn schedule and the public will now have more opportunities to watch the shows they love.
BBC iPlayer revolutionised TV viewing consumption back in 2007 with its seven day catch-up window and has since grown steadily, now with over seven million TV and radio programme requests a day. By increasing programme availability to 30 days, audiences can watch and listen to more of the BBC content they love, whenever and wherever they are.
30 day catch-up arrives just in time for an autumn schedule packed with exciting programmes such as epic gangster drama Peaky Blinders, the much-anticipated second series of hit BBC drama The Fall, Human Universe and Detectorists on BBC iPlayer and drama such as The Archers, Once and Future King, Good Omens and comedy Just A Minute on BBC iPlayer Radio, all of which will benefit from this extended availability period.
Tony Hall, Director-General, BBC, said: “BBC iPlayer pioneered online viewing. It is recognised as not just the first, but the best service of its type in the world. It offers amazing value. But we want to go further. That’s why we began reinventing iPlayer earlier this year with a brand new redesign and features. Extending the catch up window to 30 days now makes the best value on-demand service even better. We have a fantastic autumn schedule and the public will now have more opportunities to watch the shows they love.”
Ralph Rivera, Director of Future Media, BBC, said: “There is a huge demand to make programmes available for longer on BBC iPlayer – as we continue to see people search for their favourite programmes after the seven day catch-up window. Whether it’s on the bus on their mobile – or on their tablet in bed at night, I’m really pleased that we’re able to give our audiences longer to watch and listen than ever before.”
BBC One smash hit Happy Valley is one example that saw a huge 154,000 searches in the three weeks after it became unavailable on BBC iPlayer. With the increased 30 day window, audiences will have even more time to catch up on their favourite shows, when it suits them.
Speech and music programmes from across the BBC’s portfolio of national radio stations (such as BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 2) and BBC radio stations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are now available to stream for 30 days on BBC iPlayer Radio. The 30 day availability for programmes from regional radio stations and the World Service will roll-out over the coming weeks.
Downloading TV programmes on BBC iPlayer will also move to a 30 day catch-up window shortly afterwards.
Notes to Editors
• Launching in December 2007 as a simple catch-up website, BBC iPlayer has helped pioneer TV on demand by offering audiences the opportunity to watch selected BBC programmes for up to seven days after broadcast
• BBC iPlayer has since evolved, adding more TV programmes, entire TV series, films and exclusive content, radio programmes, live TV channels and radio stations, programme downloads for offline viewing and personalisation features such as Favourites and Recommendations
• Variants of BBC iPlayer optimised for over 1,200 mobiles, tablets and connected TVs are also available, allowing audiences to catch-up or watch live wherever they are and on whatever device – offering access on the move over 3G and Wi-Fi, or simple and convenient access via broadband on the living room TV
• A number of radio and TV programmes are currently available for longer than 7 days. These programmes will be unaffected by this change
• BBC Radio podcast services will be unaffected by this change
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