The BBC's iPlayer service was inundated by some 21 million requests for downloads and streams of the broadcaster's shows in April, it has been revealed.
The statistics, announced by the BBC's director of future media and technology Ashley Highfield at Google's Zeitgeist 2008 forum, indicate the startling growth experienced by the on-demand service.
The number of monthly requests made through the iPlayer in April increased by 20 per cent from the previous month while the number of weekly users increased by 300,000 people, up to 1.4 million.
And after April's figures were confirmed, Highfield revealed that the iPlayer has now processed an amazing 75 million requests since its introduction in December 2007.
The most popular shows among iPlayer users in April were, unsurprisingly, the BBC's highest-rating programmes, with Doctor Who and The Apprentice both featuring in the top 20 most-requested programmes for downloading or streaming.
BBC3 shows also proved popular, with Page Three Teens the one entry in the top ten while the award wins of much-loved sitcom Gavin and Stacey saw its televised viewing figures boosted by almost a quarter of a million people in one week alone.
The top 20 most-requested programmes to download or stream on BBC iPlayer in April were:
1 Doctor Who - episode 1: BBC1
2 Penguins April Fool: BBC1
3 Doctor Who - episode 2: BBC1
4 Doctor Who - episode 3: BBC1
5 Doctor Who - episode 4: BBC1
6 Page Three Teens: BBC3
7 The Apprentice - episode 3: BBC1
8 The Apprentice - episode 5: BBC1
9 The Apprentice - episode 4: BBC1
10 The Apprentice - episode 2: BBC1
11 Glamour Girls - episode 1: BBC3
12 Gavin and Stacey - episode 7: BBC3
13 Gavin and Stacey - episode 6: BBC3
14 Torchwood - episode 13: BBC2
15 Gavin and Stacey - episode 5: BBC3
16 Dawn... Goes Lesbian: BBC3
17 Top Gear - episode 8: BBC2
18 The Apprentice - Worst Decisions Ever: BBC2
19 Have I Got News For You - episode 1: BBC2
20 Amy: My Body For Bucks: BBC3
21/05/2008 00:01:01
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