One million viewers use iPlayer

The iPlayer is a catch-up online TV service

More than 3.5 million programmes have been watched by more than a million people using the BBC's online video service iPlayer since 25 December.

On average, 250,000 programmes were either streamed or downloaded each day following the Christmas Day launch.

According to BBC figures, the number of users streaming content outnumbers downloading by a factor of eight.

The BBC, as well as Sky, Channel 4 and ITV, have launched rival online video services in the last 12 months.

Nearly half of all programmes streamed or downloaded were placed outside the top 50 most popular shows, the BBC said.

Ashley Highfield, the BBC's director of future media and technology, said it "demonstrates how on demand services can bring niche programming to a wider audience".

The iPlayer lets users download programmes to a PC, or stream more than 250 BBC programmes from the previous seven days.

The most popular programmes watched via iPlayer since launch included the Doctor Who Christmas Special, Top Gear and the festive edition of EastEnders.