BBC releases iPlayer viewing trends for 2009

The BBC has released a batch of interesting statistics concerning use of its catch-up TV service iPlayer in 2009 in the wake of its second birthday on Christmas Day.

Throughout the year the broadcaster found users who accessed the service through a Mac or a PS3 were more likely to catch-up on comedy programmes. Meanwhile, those watching on a PC or through the Virgin Media platform were more interesting in view drama.

The highest viewing figures in the year were for Top Gear, with one particular episode pulling in and audience of 1.7 million. Meanwhile, November saw the largest user base for the service with 88.2 million programme requests in total.

Speaking on the statistics, Erik Huggers, the BBC's Director of Future Media and Technlogy, commented: “Whether it's watching Eastenders on your PC during your lunch break, listening to Desert Island Discs on the bus or watching Mock The Week in bed, viewing patterns chance depend on time and location of the audience.”

The most popular television and radio programs via iPlayer from 1 January to 13 December 2009 were as follows:

TV

1.Top Gear: series 13 Ep. 1 BBC Two 1,671,100
2.Top Gear: series 14 Ep. 1 BBC Two 1,299,200
3.Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow Ep. 1 BBC One 1,173,300
4.Gavin And Stacey: series 3 Ep. 1 BBC One 972,700
5.Question Time 22/10/09 BBC One 939,400
6.Life Ep. 1 BBC One 869,000
7.Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead 11/04/09 BBC One 811,800
8.Mock The Week: series 7 Ep. 8 BBC Two 656,500
9.Live At The Apollo: series 4 Ep. 1 BBC One 654,100
10.Horne And Cordon Ep. 1 BBC Three 614,800
11.Waterloo Road: series 5 Ep. 1 BBC One 605,900
12.Being Human Ep. 1 BBC Three 603,300
13.Torchwood: Children Of Earth Ep. 1 BBC One 559,800
14.Merlin: series 2 Ep. 1 BBC One 489,400
15.Russell Howard's Good News Ep. 1 BBC Three 453,400
16.Kirsten's Topless Ambition 28/04/09 BBC Three 453,200
17.Spooks: series 8 Ep. 1 BBC One 449,900
18.Shooting Stars: series 6 Ep. 1 BBC Two 447,000
19.QI: series 6 Ep. 9 BBC One 422,200
20.Robin Hood: series 3 Ep. 13 BBC One 414,100

Audio

1.Test Match Special 21/08/09 5 Live Sports Extra 183,300
2.I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue: series 51 Ep. 1 Radio 4 167,000
3.5 Live Sport: Premier League 2009-10 14/03/09 5 Live 162,700
4.The Chris Moyles Show 06/07/09 Radio 1 129,700
5.Stephen Nolan 07/11/09 5 Live 115,800
6.Jo Whiley 18/09/09 Radio 1 90,700
7.Fry's English Delight: series 2 Ep. 1 Radio 4 86,800
8.Classic Serial: The Complete Smiley Ep. 1 Radio 4 82,200
9.The News Quiz: series 69 Ep. 6 Radio 4 80,700
10.Desert Island Discs 29/11/09 Radio 4 79,900
11.Greg James 08/10/09 Radio 1 78,100
12.The Unbelievable Truth: series 4 Ep. 4 Radio 4 74,200
13.That Mitchell And Webb Sound: series 4 Ep. 2 Radio 4 68,000
14.Act Your Age Ep. 1 Radio 4 66,800
15.Chart Show with Reggie Yates 29/11/09 Radio 1 66,400
16.Ken Bruce 11/05/09 Radio 2 65,800
17.Wimbledon: Men's Semi-Finals 03/07/09 5 Live 65,100
18.606 25/04/09 5 Live 64,900
19.Edith Bowman 10/03/09 Radio 1 64,800
20.The Now Show: series 26 Ep. 1 Radio 4 64,300