We are in no way surprised: the most popular program amongst Aussie users of the BBC’s iPad/iPhone iPlayer app is Doctor Who. More surprising? Australia is the biggest global market for the app, which is now available in 16 countries.
We liked the BBC’s iPlayer app when it rolled out in January, but it was only an option for iPad. From December 8, iPhone and iPod touch owners will also be able to install the app and access the service.
The BBC’s iPlayer app for iPad is now out in Australia and it works really well when it comes to viewing archive material. But will it ever appear on Android? And why can’t we pay for a full version of the UK catch-up service? We chatted with BBC Worldwide executives to discover the answers.
Having launched in Europe in late July, Australia has today become the second region in the world to get access to the official BBC iPlayer iPad app. The app itself is free, and includes access to ten hours or so of sample content: for ongoing access to the full range of iPlayer content, you need to pay either $9.49 a month or $89.99 a year.
The BBC has been promising an international, paid-for version of its iPlayer TV catchup service for some time now. It has taken the first steps in that direction with an iPad app, but right now it’s still a Europe-only proposition.
The BBC’s iPlayer is an awesome catch-up TV service, but it’s blocked for access outside of the UK. There are complex proxy tricks you can use to get it, but a simpler solution is on the cards: the BBC is contemplating an international edition of the service.
