The BBC is to premiere 40 hours of content of its iPlayer service ahead on TV, as it looks to reposition itself as a leader in the digital market.
The move follows a trail in ‘online only’ content including reality comedy show ‘Impractical Jokers’ last year.
Minutes from a BBC Trust meeting released yesterday said: ‘Members noted that the Trust’s Strategy and Approvals Committee had approved the launch of a trial for up to 12 months which would allow up to 40 hours of programming across a range of genres to be shown on BBC Online before transmission on linear television channels.’
Although the plans have been approved, no details have been released about which shows will be included or when the trial will start.
At the moment, viewers do not need a TV licence to watch iPlayer as long as it is more than two hours since the programme was broadcast on TV. But a licence is required for the ‘watch live’ option, which shows programmes currently being aired.
The latest 12 month trial will see the broadcaster premiere 40 hours of programming across a range of genres on iPlayer in a bid to counter the growing appeal of services such as Netflix – which launched its own online only show, House of Cards, this month.
iPlayer has been a major success for the BBC, garnering a record 187m requests for content last month – although this still amounts to just 2% of total BBC viewing figures.
