BBC iPlayer trial launched for iPhone

Global rollout starts today as part of "mobile strategy."

BBC Worldwide has announced that starting from today, its on-demand streaming service will receive a pilot launch on iPhone and iPod Touch worldwide.

This news will surely be welcome to iOS-using BBC fans that don't possess an iPad, which was previously the only means of overseas iPlayer use.

The trial subscription service will be available for those in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

John Smith, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said: "The global BBC iPlayer has seen great growth since the pilot first launched in July -- both in terms of geographical expansion and technological developments."

During yesterday's Digital TV Summit, Jana Bennett, president, worldwide networks and Global BBC iPlayer, said: "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."