BBC launches European iPlayer

It's fair to say that the BBC's iPlayer has been a resounding success within the UK, but one of the frustrations felt across continental Europe is that it's not been possible for viewers and listeners to make use of the service.  Today, that all changes.  The iPlayer is now available across 11 European countries and is on schedule to launch in Australia later in the year, meaning that popular radio programmes from the likes of Annie Mac, Gilles Peterson and Pete Tong can be heard on demand.

The 11 countries it launched in today are Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, while America, Canada and Australia are expected before the end of the year.  The BBC is also keen to stress that the iPlayer is not just another method of catching up on favourite TV programmes, but a video on-demand service that allows viewers to delve into the goldmine of BBC archives going back 50 or 60 years.

BBC iPlayer
Annie Mac on Pulse
Gilles Peterson on Pulse