A limited roll-out of the iPlayer service will start at the end of this month, with a full service launched on the Freesat platform early next year. It will enable viewers to catch up on programmes screened in the last seven days on the TV in their living room rather than on a computer.

Freesat, a joint venture between the BBC and ITV, is a subscription-free satellite TV service that gives viewers access to more than 140 television and radio channels, and offers a selection of high-definition programming from both the BBC and ITV.

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