Advanced Television

Bennett leads iPlayer global push

December 2, 2010

Jana Bennett is moving from her job as BBC Vision director to BBC Worldwide, with responsibilities including the global rollout of the international subscription version of the iPlayer. Bennett will join BBC Worldwide in February as president, worldwide networks and global iPlayer.

The BBC is seeking to build on the popularity of its iPlayer by launching an international version of the VOD catch-up service as an application for Apple’s iPad. The Global iPlayer, which awaits approval by the BBC Trust, will be available only outside the UK.

BBC Worldwide said on that it would make the iPlayer available to iPad owners in certain target markets in the middle of next year.

Luke Bradley-Jones, managing director of BBC.com, its commercial web operation, said it would be aimed at early adoptors of technology who had an interest in high-quality BBC programmes.

He said it was too early to say what the BBC would charge for the Global iPlayer but said it would be a monthly subscription and that the US would be among the first markets to come online.

Bennett will also oversee BBC Worldwide’s wholly-owned channels outside the US, including BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, CBeebies and BBC HD and the corporation’s 50% stake in the UKTV joint venture with Virgin Media, which operates 10 networks including Dave, Gold and Watch.

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