Commuters wanting to catch up on the latest episodes of BBC programmes on the way to work will be able to download BBC iPlayer content to their mobile phones or tablets.
According to the BBC, the app update will initially be for iOS devices and will offer a 30-day window for watching downloaded content.
Previously, the app required a 3G or Wi-Fi connection to be able to watch catch-up content, making watching content on the move challenging.
“You can now load up your mobile phone or tablet with hours and hours of BBC television programmes”
“With mobile downloads for BBC iPlayer, you can now load up your mobile phone or tablet with hours and hours of BBC television programmes, then watch them on the road, on the tube, on a plane, without worrying about having an internet connection or running up a mobile data bill,” said Daniel Danker, general manager of Programmes and On-Demand for the BBC.
Once a program is started, viewers will have seven days to finish watching the show. The app can be downloaded in full or upgraded from the iTunes App Store.
The initial services will be for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices, but an Android app including the download option will be available soon, the BBC said.
“We are working on Android,” said BBC digital rights staffer Andrew Livingston in his Twitter feed. “We started both at the same time. At one point it looked like Android might have shipped first.”
