BBC launches new iPlayer on Sony PlayStation 3

BBC iPlayer

The BBC is today launching a new HTML 5 version of its iPlayer on Sony's PlayStation 3.

Featuring a new on-screen design, custom-built for the living room, the latest version "gives audiences the control they want directly on the TV", says the Beeb.

Viewers can now flick through channels while watching TV, use the improved search functionality to find the programmes they want more easily, and personalise iPlayer with their favourite programmes.

Although launching initially on the PS3, the new iPlayer will be coming to many more connected TV devices in the next few months. You can find out more in this BBC blog.

Daniel Danker, BBC's general manager, programmes & on demand, says: "BBC iPlayer has been tremendously successful. With today's announcement, we're transforming iPlayer in its most natural home: on the living room TV."

BBC iPlayer is now available on more than 300 connected TV devices, including games consoles, Freeview HD and Freesat HD set-top boxes, internet TVs, Blu-ray players, and pay-TV platforms such as Virgin Media and BT Vision.

The number of iPlayer programme requests on connected TVs increase more than five-fold from December 2010 to July 2011, growing from 579,000 to 3.1 million requests in July.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.