The BBC has announced that it is to increase the availability of content from the current seven days to 30.
“Consistently the most common response from users to the question ‘How could we improve BBC iPlayer?’ is ‘make programmes available for longer than 7 days’, said Dan Taylor Watt, head of BBC iPlayer.
“I’m delighted to announce that on Saturday morning we started doing just that, increasing the standard availability period for programmes on BBC iPlayer (and BBC iPlayer Radio) from seven days to 30 days.
Following deals with suppliers, contributors and underlying rights holders, BBC iPlayer launched in 2007 with a standard seven day availability period in which to watch programmes.
In 2008, the BBC introduced a ‘series catch-up’ option but was unable to apply it to all series. Watt said it had left some viewers frustrated, particuarly when beginning to watch a series when it was close to airing its final episode.
“The BBC has put in place arrangements with its rights-holder partners to pave the way for the introduction of 30 Day availability and following a top-to-bottom rebuild of the various systems which power BBC iPlayer we are now in a position to enable 30 Days for all new versions of BBC iPlayer,” Watt said.
The roll-out will run across all computers, tablets and mobile devices as well as connected TV devices which have been updated with the new version of iPlayer, including Sky.
Virgin Media TiVo, YouView and BT Vision boxes will all receive 30 day availability when they are upgraded to the new version.
To begin with, 30 day availability only applies to streaming but the BBC will soon roll out the same availability to downloads, giving viewers an extra 23 days in which to download content.
