Jimmy McGovern’s Moving On to be first BBC drama series to premiere on iPlayer

Editor | 18-10-2013

After using its catch-up and on-demand platform as the initial launchpad for documentaries, the BBC will now use the iPlayer to premier drama, specifically the return of popular series Moving On.

The iPlayer-first strategy began with the Modern Outlaws documentaries season for BBC Four's Storyville strand featuring Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, Smash And Grab: The Story Of The Pink Panthers and The Great Hip-Hop Hoax which premiered on 12 October 2013.

The Moving On series was created by EMMY and multi-BAFTA-winning writer Jimmy McGovern, and includes five stand-alone films featuring actors such as Natalie Gumede, Anthony Flanagan, Jo Joyner, Lee Ingleby, Duncan Preston, Ray Fearon, Emma Cuniffe, Sharon Horgan, Craig Kelly, Ramon Tikaram, Rosalind Ayres, Emma Lowndes, plus UK TV legends Keith Barron and Anita Dobson.

The series premiere on BBC iPlayer is part of the BBC Trust’s approved trial to explore the role of online premiering across a range of genres and channels.

“We couldn’t be more delighted that Jimmy McGovern’s Moving On will be the first drama series to premiere on BBC iPlayer, in its entirety,” commented Victoria Jaye, head of TV content, BBC iPlayer, explaining the rationale for launching the drama series on the platform. “As an established drama in the daytime schedule, the series premiere on BBC iPlayer will be both a gift to loyal viewers and an unprecedented opportunity for a wider audience to enjoy these five stand-alone films across multiple devices, and at a time that suits them. Over the last year, there has been 43% growth in BBC iPlayer usage across mobile and tablet - with drama programmes driving almost a third of total viewing.”