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Next generation 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer launches
The 91Èȱ¬ today unveils a new-look 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer which fully integrates radio and TV in one interface, as the service records over 100 million requests to view programmes in the six months since its launch.
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The new-look service, which launches in beta tomorrow, will 'dual run' alongside the existing iPlayer for the next few weeks.
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Erik Huggers, the 91Èȱ¬'s Group Controller for Future Media and Technology, says: "The next generation of 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer allows UK licence fee payers to catch up on their favourite 91Èȱ¬ TV and radio programmes in one place – a completely unique on-demand service.
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"Audiences are now able to experience the full range of 91Èȱ¬ content – some 250 TV programmes currently available each week as well as all the 91Èȱ¬ radio networks – in a new and more accessible way, and all for free.
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"On-demand radio from the 91Èȱ¬ has been a phenomenal success since it was first launched in 2002, with around 600 million hours listened to via streaming or the 'listen again' function.
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"The full integration with iPlayer is a natural evolution for the audio service and an exciting step for audiences."
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Audiences can choose to either listen again to 91Èȱ¬ Radio from the last seven days with even better sound quality, or listen live – while the option of a pop-out player allows users to continue listening as they browse other web pages.
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'Listen again' users can now also rewind and fast forward in the same way that they can for TV programmes.
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The new-look 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer offers a more rewarding user experience, allowing smoother and easier navigation between TV and radio programmes, while features such as 'Last Played' – which allows users to resume watching programmes at the point they have left off – mark the beginning of a shift towards personalisation.
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Other key enhancements include combined TV and radio categories such as comedy and drama, a larger playback screen to watch TV programmes and a TV schedule that allows users to plan their viewing over the coming days.
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These will sit alongside the existing 'More Like This' function, which recommends other programmes users might like. Ìý
There have been over 100 million requests to view programmes since 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer launched. In May alone, there were 21.8 million requests to view, some 700,000 per day on average.
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The new-look 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer will be available on other platforms for TV catch-up, including the Apple iPhone and iPod touch, and the Nintendo Wii.
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Audio on demand and live streaming will become available in due course.
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Notes to Editors
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The 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer is available on PC, Mac, Linux, Virgin Media, Apple iPhone and iPod touch and Nintendo Wii.
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The 91Èȱ¬'s iPlayer measurement system uses a sample of users and there are variances with the other page traffic measurement systems. This data is not yet audited. The 91Èȱ¬ is working towards meeting industry standards for video and audio streaming and downloading. The 91Èȱ¬ is constantly working on its measurement systems and reserves the right to augment or change its methodology as the platform develops.
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