Virgin platform for BBC iPlayer

The BBC has signed a deal with internet and phone provider Virgin Media to make its iPlayer service available on TV.

Virgin Media customers will be able to catch up on the past week's programmes without the need for downloading.

Malcolm Wall, the company's CEO of content, said it was "proud to be working with the BBC to continue to lead this revolution in TV viewing".

The BBC has already reached a deal with games giant Nintendo to make its video on-demand tool available to Wii users.

The service allows 3.5 million Virgin customers to catch up on more than 350 hours of TV programmes from the past seven days at no additional cost.

'Realised ambition'

"We have always envisaged [the] BBC iPlayer on a TV platform and in the living room," said Ashley Highfield, the BBC's director of future media and technology.

"By working with Virgin Media, this ambition has been realised. This partnership takes us a step closer to transforming the way our audiences watch TV."

Earlier this year the BBC launched a version of its video on-demand service for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch devices.

It is hoped a download version of the iPlayer will be made available to Apple Mac users by the end of this year.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
BBC iPlayer
Virgin Media
BBC Internet Blog on iPlayer and Virgin
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites