BBC overhauls iPlayer

The BBC has launched a new version of its iPlayer VoD service, which the UK pubcaster has labelled as “the next staging post” in its development.

The changes have seen the iPlayer being rebuilt for multi-screen devices, meaning it now appears uniformly across all platforms.

It has also been redesigned to allow users to better explore the library of content available with enhanced search functions and recommendation tools. A seven-day planner has been added.

The overhaull comes less than a week after the BBC confirmed plans to cease operating its youth-skewing BBC3 brand as a broadcast channel but maintain it online.

The BBC’s director general Tony Hall has previously said he wants to make the iPlayer the organisation’s “primary digital entertainment destination”, and added today that he would use the service’s power “to deliver some very, very new and creative ideas.”

“Last week’s announcement of the BBC3 changes will push the creative development of iPlayer increasingly to the fore,” he added.

The new version will be available on mobile and tablets browsers from today, with the service’s other apps getting refreshed over the coming months.

Hall also revealed more original programming for the iPlayer, a key part of his plan for the service, including a three-part season of shows about contemporary Britain from journalist and storyteller Adam Curtis. Out There, At The Mountains Of Madness and Dream Baby Dream will be available from July and join The Cut-Outs Exhibition at Tate Modern, which explores the work of artist Matisse and an iPlayer film, My God, It’s Full Of Fans. It will accompany the BBC Two series My God, It’s Full Of Stars, which explores the history of science fiction.

He also outlined a series of original shorts for the service, including drama My Jihad which explores a cash-strapped Muslim eager to marry, which is available from today. Elsewhere new comedy shorts from comedians including Frankie Boyle, Bob Mortimer and Stewart Lee will be available from May.