BBC iPlayer strikes international deals

BBC iPlayer has acquired its first third-party series for its international streaming platform and is looking to strike more global deals.

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the British public broadcaster that operates the international version of the platform, struck a deal with  distributor DRG for comedies including Peep Show, Green Wing and Father Ted.

Jana Bennett, president, worldwide networks and global BBC iPlayer, told delegates at the Digital TV Summit, which is organised by TBI publisher Informa Telecoms and Media, that the iPlayer will be also become available via Apple iPhones in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

“This platform extension shows how global iPlayer isn’t just about moving TV to tablet devices, it’s also about a mobile strategy – about truly getting TV everywhere in a way that it hasn’t been before. We also want the global BBC iPlayer to be truly representative of the whole gamut of British creative output, to represent everything that is great about British content – not just the best of British TV but the best of British Culture,”   she said.