iPlayer to get its own controller

The BBC’s director of television, Danny Cohen, has today announced that iPlayer is to receive its very own Controller, an entirely new role.

The news follows details of the iPlayer’s evolution announced by director general Tony Hall, in which he described a ‘next generation’ platform that would act as the ‘front door to the BBC’.

Details of a time-shifted BBC+1 channel, a ‘pay to download‘ shows option and a music discovery service were also unveiled.

The new controller will report directly to Cohen and will take overall charge of the online content planned for iPlayer, including new short-form programming, improved curation and the premiering of BBC shows in advance of their transmission on the linear channels.

“BBC iPlayer is an increasingly important part of the way viewers enjoy our content,” said Cohen. “From now on I want us to think of BBC iPlayer as having the same status and value as a linear channel service. In essence, it becomes our fifth channel, creating and sharing content alongside our linear services.”

The role will be advertised in due course.