BBC iPlayer has been designed to be used on televisions, allowing viewers to catch-up on programmes they miss.
It is hoped the broadening of the BBC service, which was initially launched to be used online, will make it more accessible to less technologically-savvy viewers.
From today, iPlayer is available from today on the PlayStation 3 games console, and it is also being adapted for an array of set-top boxes and internet-capable televisions. Many such devices were already able to access iPlayer, but the presentation was inconsistent and it could be frustrating to navigate.
The new TV version features menus that are easier to use with a normal remote control and better personalisation features that remember viewers’ searches and allows them to quickly access their favourite programmes.
“It feel like TV, it's much easier to use and it’s more personal,” said Gideon Summerfield, the BBC’s executive product manager for iPlayer on TV.
“This is designed from the ground up for televisions,” he added.
The BBC is trying to encourage its ‘mainstream audience’ to use iPlayer. It has proved highly successful on computers and smartphones, but executives are keen for it to colonise its “natural home”, the living room.
