BBC's On-Demand Video Service Approved

After a nearly two-year wait, the BBC has been given the go-ahead to launch its online on-demand television, however no exact launch date has been set.

This service is directed at British consumers and allows programs to be watched for up to seven days after they are broadcast. Once downloaded, the consumer has up to 30 days to view the content.

Deals with YouTube and Yahoo News are bringing content from the BBC to a broader segment of the non-British public, however tight rules governing the dissemination of content within the UK have held back services like those that have become quite popular with American broadcasters.

In addition, when programs end their runs, the entire series is viewable for up to a month after the final episode airs. The announcement signals clearance of the final obstacle to the service originally anounced in August 2005.

A test of the service was conducted, and it received nearly 10,500 comments from testers. Following the completion of the beta, the BBC Trust said the project could move forward. In announcing its decision, it cited strong public support for the offering.

"It is a critical part of the BBC's strategy to maintain impact and relevance in a world where viewing and listening habits are shifting from linear to on-demand," BBC Director of Future Media and Technology Ashley Highfield said in a statement.