BBC iPlayer will soon be available on Sky, bringing the video-on-demand service to 5 million customers.
The Sky service will be called Anytime+, and will be available free to Sky customers by the end of the year.
BBC Director General Mark Thompson said “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. I’m delighted to take this first step on a story of innovation for both organisations.”
BBC iPlayer has been at the forefront of off-schedule viewing since launching in 2007.
The service is currently available free via the internet to anyone with a PC, smart phone or tablet.
BBC iPlayer is also available on Virgin Media, BT Vision, FreeSat, Freeview, Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Wii.
Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s Chief Executive, added “Sky Anytime+ will go from strength to strength in 2012 and we are delighted that the addition of BBC iPlayer will allow Sky customers to enjoy the best of the BBC whenever they want.”
In 2011 alone, the service delivered 2 billion TV and radio programmes, a record number for the service.
The BBC said in a statement that the booming growth in tablets, smart phones and smart TVs was the reason for the spike in popularity.
In December 2011, 7 million BBC iPlayer programmes were watched on smart TVs, an increase of 1000% compared to the same time in 2010.
Viewing has grown on mobile phones and tablets too, with recorded 13 million shows watched on mobiles, an increase of 163%, and and 10 million on tablets, a growth of 596%.