The global version of the iPlayer will close next month, BBC Worldwide has confirmed. Launched as a pilot in Australia in September 2011 the service was made available on iPad, iPod and iPhone in 16 markets in Western Europe, Canada and Australia.
There had been suggestions that threats from US operators to drop BBC America – fearing a loss of audience – had prevented its launch there.
An initial announcement on the Global iPlayer’s demise was made in October 2013 and the date has now been confirmed as June 26.
The content provided was distinct from that offered via the UK version, including older shows from the corporation’s library in addition to recently broadcast programmes.
In total, more than 2,000 hours of shows were on offer on the global edition of iPlayer, including Gavin and Stacey, Fawlty Towers, Planet Earth and “classic” episodes of Doctor Who.
In the UK market the BBC is developing the BBC Store, a new online commercial service to allow audiences to buy and keep BBC programmes, though the BBC has been coy as to if and when this might be developed internationally.
