BBC iPlayer now allows viewers to access rival channels

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• Corporation hopes move will help other channels make money online

The BBC is allowing rival channels to list their programme schedules on its iPlayer website.In a move designed to support other broadcasters' attempts to make money online, the corporation yesterday began listing shows from ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, as well as content from websites including MSN.iPlayer now provides links to these channels' own on-demand players so viewers can easily locate non-BBC programmes in the same way they would search for BBC shows.

Opening up: The BBC is allowing rival channels including ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to list their programme schedules on its iPlayer websiteCrucially, when users click on a rival channel's programme, iPlayer does not open a new browser window - instead, taking people away from the BBC website.iPlayer's Paul Clark said: 'We think BBC Online should service as s hub to support other UK sites, and want to double the traffic we send externally.'More than 160million television and radio programmes were watched via iPlayer in January, compared with just 10.6 million views on the ITV Player in the same period.

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The BBC's rivals estimate that the new iPlayer links will increase the number of people watching their shows online by up to 10 per cent.A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'It's been a while in the making, but this has been an extremely ambitious and technically complicated project.'We wanted to get to a user-experience that feels intuitive and not "bolted on", even though the experience is as much reliant on the data feeds from our partners as our own engineering.'

Channel 5: When users click on a rival's programme, iPlayer does not open a new browser window - instead, taking people away from the BBC websiteWhen the corporation first raised the possibility of sharing the iPlayer in 2009, BBC bosses rejected the notion.Earlier this month the BBC launched an iPlayer application for mobile phones and iPads.Thefree download allows users to watch BBC TV and radio channels live on their gadgets as well as catch up on programmes aired during the lastweek.

'We think BBC Online should service as s hub to support other UK sites, and want to double the traffic we send externally.'

The long-awaited app is initially only available on the iPad and on mobile devices running Google's Android operating system. A wi-fi connection is also necessary.iPhone and iPod Touch owners will have to wait for a compatible app - expected soon - to be made available for their devices.Currently consumers must visit the BBC website on their device, but the new app can make access far easier.Future versions may also allow programmes to be downloaded for viewers to enjoy when they are not online, potentially handy for people on the London Underground.The latest version of iPlayer was launched last September - it included an element of social networking by integrating Facebook and Twitter accounts so that viewers know what programmes their friends have 'liked'.The launch was beset by hundreds of viewer complaints that the updated version was full of bugs that made it extremely difficult to use.