The BBC iPlayer has shown month-on-month growth of 25% since the internet-based video on demand service was launched on Christmas Day. The total number of requests for downloads and streams in March was 17.2 million, rising from 14 million in February, and 11.2 million in January.
The average number of weekly users for the iPlayer reached 1.1 million in March, up from the January average of 750,000 users. The number of daily requests now stands at 550,000.
The figures will add fuel to suggestions from the UK broadband provider Tiscali that the BBC should contribute to technology upgrades due to the amount of pressure caused by the iPlayer’s popularity.
The most streamed programme on the iPlayer is the first episode of the current series of The Apprentice.
Separately, the BBC has announced an agreement with Intendo that makes it possible for the iPlayer to be viewed through the Wii console.