BBC iPlayer service to be available on iPad

The global version of its iPlayer service will be on a subscription-only basis and will only be available on the iPad, said BBC.

The BBC’s iPlayer video-on-demand service has proved a big hit in the UK. Also, BBC has long intended to make its iPlayer service available overseas, giving its programming a worldwide audience.

By offering’s iPad content subscriptions, the BBC will try to build its platform to a larger audience.

“we’re going to be adopting a pure paid subscription model for the global iPlayer for launch in part to get audiences used to using the service, but more importantly so we can generate additional value from the service in terms of the user data that it gives us,” said Luke Bradley-Jones , managing director, BBC.com.

After gaining the massive hit in U.S by airing shows like Top Gear, Sherlock and Doctor, BBC now wants generate extra income from running these shows via its BBC Worldwide channels.

In October, the service received 139 million requests as a videon-on-demand service in the UK.

“There’s a general acknowledgement in the world of VoD that there needs to be a hybrid business model a combination of subscriptions, download to own and pay per view,” said Bradley-Jones.

Currently, UK users are able to view iPlayer streams from their iPad. The corporation will use the same technologies to stream content worldwide, incurring less development costs in the process.

“We will also offer advertisers the chance to partner with us on the ‘free’ areas of the service,” said Bradley-Jones.