BBC iPlayer users will have to use personal logins from early 2017

The public broadcaster says the move will make its services more personalised and localised

Currently, only live content is covered by the £145.50-a-year licence fee (PA)

Anyone using the BBC iPlayer app from early 2017 onwards will be required to use a personal login, with the broadcaster saying the move will make its services more personalised and localised.

Known as BBC ID - users of the corporation services can already create a personal account which is not yet required for accessing iPlayer videos.

Current BBC ID account holders will have to add a postcode to their personal information from Tuesday to continue accessing more personalised content.

TV licencing authorities will have access to the personal information, but the BBC states this will not be used for enforcement reasons.

The BBC Director General, Tony Hall, said: "By learning about what you want and like we can take you to more of the great programmes you love, stories you might be interested in and content you might otherwise never have discovered.

"This is a real transformation - reinventing public service broadcasting for the digital age."

From 1 September, viewers have had to confirm they have a TV licence before they can watch catch up shows.

Up to now, only live content has been covered by the £145.50 annual licence fee, with online viewers having to confirm they have paid before they can watch a live feed of BBC channels.

According to the public broadcaster, around seven million BBC ID accounts currently exist.