BSkyB attacks BBC over iPlayer plan

The BBC is to use its popular iPlayer service to direct viewers to ITV, Channel 4 and Five, under new plans that have invited criticism from its rival broadcaster BSkyB.

The iPlayer 3.0, which is set to launch this summer, includes a new programme guide which will be integrated with social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and MSN.

The new platform will also feature "metadata" from rivals' shows – so if a non-BBC programme name is entered into the iPlayer's search engine, users will be offered a link to the show on the relevant broadcaster's player.

BSkyB criticised the move, accusing the BBC of reinventing its video-on-demand service as "an online aggregator... without appropriate regulatory review". A beta version of the online gadget went live on the BBC website yesterday.