BBC unveils new iPlayer apps for iPad and Android devices

The BBC has unveiled plans to port its iPlayer service to the Apple iPad and Android-based tablets.

The BBC will launch specific Android and iPad apps, which will allow users to watch live TV and access the BBC’s full catalogue of catch-up content, seven-days’ TV and demand as well as series stacking (similar to its online offering) on 11 February.

The corporation’s efforts to extend the iPlayer’s popularity to mobile devices has already started to pay off, with growth of mobile users outpacing PC users by more than two to one in December 2010. BBC iPlayer growth on tablets has also outpaced PC-viewing by more than 20 to one, according to Rapid TV News.

BBC’s latest strategy, confirmed by general manager of future media & technology Daniel Danker, is a culmination of plans first released a year ago at the Mobile World Congress, which saw the BBC go on to embed the iPlayer service on a select number of smartphones.

The new apps will work on the iPad and Android 2.2 devices.

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