The UK's largest broadcaster finally launched its online video streaming and download service on Christmas Day 2007. Plusnet, a small ISP owned by BT, has provided a preliminary analysis of the traffic and the results should send shivers down the spine of any ISP currently offering an unlimited "all-you-eat" service.
The iPlayer service is basically a 7-day catch-up service which enables people who missed and didn't record a broadcast to watch the programme at their leisure on a PC connected to the internet. The iPlayer differs from any other internet-based video service in certain key respects:
It is funded by the £135.50 annual licence fee which pays for the majority of BBC activities.
