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BBC IPlayer

BBC iPlayer viewers rise by over a third to hit record 243m last month

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By John Glenday, Reporter

August 23, 2013 | 1 min read

The BBC’s digital catch-up service, iPlayer, went from strength to strength last month after the number of viewers hit a new record of 242m, a 38 per cent increase on the year before.

Audiences jumped as 2m people logged in to watch shows shows such as Top Gear and live events such as Murray’s Wimbledon win.

Fears have been raised however that this apparent success could hit the BBC’s coffers hard as a legal loophole allows people to avoid paying the £145.50 annual license fee, so long as they do not watch live broadcasts.

It is thought that thousands of people now do just that, although the BBC has refused to release figures on the trend.

Nevertheless the BBC is keen to expand its digital services by premiering content, such as an upcoming Peter Kay sitcom, on iPlayer first.

BBC IPlayer

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