BBC signs deal to make iPlayer available on Sky in 2012

iPlayer will be available to 5 million Sky subscribers

BBC has signed a deal with Sky that will see its popular on-demand TV service, iPlayer, made available to Sky customers in 2012.

iPlayer launched in 2007 and is currently available on a multitude of platforms including TV, mobile phones, tablets and PCs.

The deal with Sky follows previous agreements with Virgin Media, BT Vision, Freeview, Sony Playstation and Nintendo Wii.

"Making BBC iPlayer available on all platforms is key to our commitment to universal access and this agreement takes us one step further towards that goal," said BBC director-general Mark Thompson.

Last year, BBC iPlayer delivered two billion TV and radio programmes to customers, and the service will now be available to five million Sky homes.

A BBC spokesperson told Computing that the service had been made possible because Sky has decided to make Anytime+, it's catch-up service, available to all customers regardless of their ISP provider, by Easter. Previously you had to be a Sky broadband customer to benefit from this service.

iPlayer will be made available through Anytime+, for which Sky will provide the technology, and BBC will provide the content, by the end of the year.

"We are delighted that the addition of BBC iPlayer will allow Sky customers to enjoy the best of the BBC whenever they want," said Jeremy Darroch, Sky's chief executive.