BBC to broadcast shows on iPlayer before TV transmission

The BBC will make a number of shows available to view online before their TV transmission.

The BBC Trust has approved a 12-month trial which will see up to 40 hours of programming across genres put on BBC iPlayer ahead of their later broadcast.



BBC publicist for future media Ian Walker said: "During 2012, the BBC brought selected online-only programmes to audiences.

"These included BBC Three comedy pilots, a Doctor Who web series called 'Pond Life', and curated archive programmes for BBC Four.

"We will build on this in 2013, and make more programming exclusively available to our audiences via BBC iPlayer."

Other UK broadcasters have previously made shows available online before their TV broadcast.

The first series of The IT Crowd was offered as a free download on the Channel 4 website in Windows Media Video format for UK and Ireland viewers back in 2006.

In 2010, the broadcaster also put the opening episode from series four of the same show up on 4oD a week before its television broadcast to registered and logged-in viewers.