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BBC iPlayer: the first episode of David Attenborough’s Africa was the most-requested show in January with 2.3m views. Photograph: BBC NHU
BBC iPlayer: the first episode of David Attenborough’s Africa was the most-requested show in January with 2.3m views. Photograph: BBC NHU

BBC iPlayer: tablet viewing requests nearly double in two months

This article is more than 11 years old
Corporation hails 'step change' over Christmas as viewers turned to devices such as Apple's iPad and Google's Nexus 7

BBC statistics for iPlayer viewing and listening have provided evidence of the impact of the so-called "tablet Christmas", with programme requests on devices such as Apple's iPad and Google's Nexus 7 almost doubling between November and January to 40m.

New figures published by the BBC last week show the number of requests for TV and radio shows including David Attenborough's Africa from tablets went up from 21m in November to 40m in January. In January 2012 the equivalent figure was 11m.

Requests for TV shows made up the lion's share – rising from 20m in November to 37m in January, compared with 11m in the same month in 2012.

BBC iPlayer: number of requests (m)
BBC iPlayer: number of requests (m). Source: BBC

Usage of the iPlayer on smartphones such as the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy also increased dramatically, from 30m programme requests in November to 44m in January. A year ago the monthly figure for January was just 12m.

Total monthly requests for TV shows from smartphones has grown from 9m in January 2012 to 24m in November and 38m last month.

Although iPlayer on demand viewing and listening on tablets and smartphones still lags far behind desktops and laptops, proportionally it is also growing rapidly from a low base just a year ago.

Tablets' share of total iPlayer requests grew from just 6% (TV only: 7%) in January 2012 to 10% (12%) in November and 15% (18%) last month. Smartphone requests have seen similar growth from 6% (TV only: 6%) of the total a year ago to 16% (18%) in January.

BBC iPlayer: top 20 TV episodes, January 2013
BBC iPlayer: top 20 TV episodes, January 2013. Source: BBC

By contrast, desktop and laptop computers' share of iPlayer requests was 62% (TV only: 58%) of the total in January 2012, 50% (48%) in November and 46% (41%) last month.

The proportion of iPlayer requests coming from viewers via TV platform operators such as Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview has declined from 20% of the total in January 2012 to 14% last month. The share of iPlayer requests from games consoles and internet-connected TVs has remained constant over the same 12-month period, at 6% and 2%, respectively.

The BBC described the latest figures as "a step change in usage of the BBC iPlayer". A spokesman said it is thought the rise of the "phablet" – smartphones that are almost as big as a tablet, such as the Samsung Note – that have driven the surge.

The latest figures from information technology researchers International Data Corporation show that there were 4.1m units of tablets sold in the UK in the last three months of 2012.

This represents a 157% increase quarter on quarter and 223% growth year on year. Apple shipments accounted for 44% of the total.

The age profile of iPlayer users has changed, with the number of people over 55 using the streaming and catchup service up 24% in the final quarter of 2012.

Dave Price, the head of BBC iPlayer, said: "BBC iPlayer had a record-breaking festive period, with performance driven by new mobiles and tablets unwrapped on Christmas Day, and it looks like these devices have yet to be put down."

The most-requested programme in January was the first episode of Attenborough's Africa, with 2.3m, followed by the first episode of the latest series of Top Gear which came in at just under 2m requests.

Dominating the top 20 was BBC1 sitcom Miranda, which had six entries and accounted for almost 8m requests. Mrs Brown's Boys, was also hugely popular with three slots in the top 10.

The number one iPlayer radio show in January, an episode of Radio 4's The News Quiz, was requested 130,000 times.

However, the BBC said its internal iPlayer figures did not take account of listening through popular radio apps such as TuneIn Radio.

Overall traditional TV viewing is still dominant but the pattern of viewing on the iPad mirrors audience behaviour with linear channels, with usage peaking between 9pm and 10pm, unlike general desktop and laptop usage which peaks at around 4pm in the afternoon.

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