Fans of BBC programming will appreciate this latest tidbit.  According to the Financial Times, the BBC is planning on launching its iPlayer app as a commercial subscription for iPad users outside the UK.  United States viewers are said to be the first target.  The report says that the news conglomerate's plans are still being worked on.

As of right now, the BBC offers a free version of its iPlayer iOS app for UK users, who are already paying TV licensing fees in order to support BBC's programming.  Since the BBC can't charge for content in the UK, the organization is aiming to offer paid subscription access for its content in foreign markets, like the US.

The report is citing Luke Bradley-Jones, managing director of BBC.com, who says that the service would start out as a paid subscription app, "in part to get audiences used to using the service, but more importantly so we can generate additional value from the service in terms of the user data that it gives us."

Bradley-Jones had said that the BBC was "planning for the Global iPlayer to initially launch just on the iPad platform, as it provides such potential to develop a truly interactive video-on-demand service, and also maps pretty nicely on to our core target audience for the service."

Following that, the BBC would then expand outward to offer up a variation of subscription access, digital downloads and pay per viewing, and would also aim for chance to work with advertisers to sponsor free content.

Currently, the government in the UK charges residents an annual "colour TV" license fee of about $227 US, which is then used for supporting television, radio broadcasts and production.  It also covers its online programming, such as mobile delivery via its iPlayer app.

So what do you think readers?  If this app does come to light, are you game?  Or pass?  Feel free to leave your comments below!

via AppleInsider

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