A new channel and changes to the iPlayer for the BBC.

Britain’s most watched channel – BBC is to launch a +1 channel, Director General, Tony Hall announced today.

He said: “Any plan for channels starts with BBC One. Above all, BBC One needs to be on top form. It has to be the nation’s favourite channel, but also its bravest. We’ll also look to launch a BBC One +1 channel, too – it’s what audiences expect, especially younger ones, and it means people can get more of what they’ve already paid for.”

Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, adds: “This is brilliant news for BBC One viewers, it means the content we pay for delivers even more value for audiences. In a world of increased choice, +1 will enable licence fee payers to have even more access to our broad range of programmes every day.”

The BBC +1 plans to launch on a number of new platforms, including FreeView, Freesat and YouView, in the next 12 months.

Hall also announced changes to the BBC iPlayer which will see new service move from a broadcast TV catch-up service to the BBC’s primary digital entertainment destination.

The BBC’s vision for new iPlayer focuses on three key areas:

– A greater range of content
– New ways of watching BBC TV shows
– Innovative new features

In the future, BBC iPlayer will experiment with:

– Pop-up channels – around specific events or festivals such as Glastonbury, curated by key talent
– Online channels – such as Radio 1 TV, Arts or Science
– More exclusive content – building on the success of comedy pilots for BBC Three
– The ability to create your own evening schedule – with access to more content before it is on TV
– An extended window to watch increasing from seven to 30 days*
– Ability to pause and resume TV viewing from one screen to another
– More relevant and personalised recommendations
– In the future, BBC iPlayer will introduce more programming made exclusively for online audiences for much-loved BBC shows like EastEnders, Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing, and themed collections from the BBC’s Archive.

Meanwhile BBC Playlister, will let audiences add and save their favourite tracks heard on the BBC to a personal online playlist, which they can then export to one of the BBC’s digital music partners where they can hear the music in full. Music fans will also get hand-picked recommendations from their favourite DJs and presenters.

Music lovers will be able to quickly and easily export their playlist from the BBC to either Spotify, YouTube or Deezer and listen back to tracks in full.

What do you think of all the BBC changes? Let us know below.