Freesat to launch BBC iPlayer and ITV Player

Freesat is to feature the BBC iPlayer and ITV’s catch-up TV service following a deal with the broadcasters.

The digital TV service, which is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV, will be the first free-to-air service to launch the ITV Player.

The BBC’s iPlayer will be made available on the service next month, allowing viewers to catch up on Christmas specials such as Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing, however, the ITV Player’s launch is expected to be on hold until next year.

Freesat is set to unveil a beta version of the iPlayer for “a few hundred” selected users on December 7, before rolling out an open version of the catch-up TV service to 230,000 Freesat households with compatible set-top boxes before Christmas.

The iPlayer offering on Freesat will feature around 450 hours of BBC programming every week, and will include popular shows such as Top Gear, EastEnders and Life.

Emma Scott, managing director of Freesat, said: “Almost 30% of all iPlayer viewing is on Virgin Media’s platform, which means it could be fantastically popular for us.  These deals give the service another string to Freesat’s bow.”

Freesat added more than 200,000 new households in Q3 2009, taking its total customer base up to 750,000 – an increase of 42% on Q2 2009.