BBC iPlayer app for UK iPads set to arrive February 10, the US in June

The BBC Internet Blog is reporting that the long-awaited BBC iPlayer app will arrive on the UK iOS App Store for iPad by the end of this week.

Daniel Danker, the new general manager of BBC programmes on demand, wrote on the blog, "We're just applying the finishing touches to the apps as we speak, and all things being well we plan to have Android and iPad apps in stores by the end of the week." Danker also wrote, "Over Christmas, growth in mobile use of BBC iPlayer outpaced PC growth by more than 2-to-1, and BBC iPlayer growth on tablets outpaced PCs by more than 20-to-1." This surely must coincide with the significant sales of the iPad over that period.

Yesterday, Pocket-Lint reported, according to a tweet by Geoff Marshall -- a BBC Interactive operations manager -- the app will arrive on Thursday 10th February and require a Wi-Fi connection for content to be streamed. Marshall also revealed that a paid-for US version of the iPlayer will arrive in June, which had been previously reported.

According to the BBC Internet Blog, the "...new native app is a significant improvement on the existing experience." The key features are cited as follows:

• Watch live TV and listen to radio (not previously widely available on mobile devices)
• Access the BBC's full catalogue of catch-up programmes; seven-days' TV and radio on demand as well as series stacking (as you get on the web)
• A simple and intuitive design with high picture quality and personalised favourites (making the most of the touch-screen UI, and a popular feature on the website)

The iPlayer can currently be viewed on both the iPad and iPhone via a optimized website, though it is only available to UK residents.
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