Jul 28, 2011 09:50 GMT  ·  By

BBC Worldwide has launched its iPlayer iPad application in European territories, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

For €6.99 a month (or €49.99 for an annual subscription), BBC iPlayer subscribers will be able to access a vast selection of English-language programs.

Content will be distributed in eight major categories, including News Specials & Documentaries; Entertainment; Drama; Comedy; Science & Nature; Family & Kids; Music & Culture and Lifestyle.

The app allows users to stream as well as to download content for offline viewing, while the interface accommodates the user’s preferences for creating a library of shows and videos.

Parents can set parental locks on content that they believe is not suitable for their offspring.

Commenting on the app’s release, John Smith, CEO BBC Worldwide, said: "I'm proud that we're one of the first international broadcasters to give access to our shows in a perfectly packaged app.”

“This launch is an important route to market in our strategy of pursuing multiple platforms for our programmes and brands, taking British programmes to new digital audiences around the world,” said Smith.

“Today marks a significant next step on a digital journey that has already seen 12m BBC Worldwide apps downloaded across brands as diverse as Lonely Planet and Good Food," the CEO concluded.

Jana Bennett, BBC Worldwide President of Worldwide Networks and Global iPlayer, added "Based on the soaring success of the UK's pioneering BBC iPlayer service, the app combines technical innovation with editorial creativity to transport users to the heart of the BBC and British television and on a journey of discovery, wherever and whenever they want."

"We have an exciting vision for what this service could become and will develop it based on feedback from within the markets," she added.

BBC iPlayer is a free download from the iTunes App Store. It works only with the Apple iPad and requires iOS 4.3 or later.