
The free-to-air channel BBC HD is already available on satellite and cable-TV platforms, and features a range of shows from the BBC channels.
Programmes available to watch on the HD channel include Doctor Who, Dragons' Den, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin and Moving On.
The iPlayer's cross-platform download manager allows for Windows, Mac and Linux users to download and stream the HD shows with no additional software requirements. The quality of computer screen and speed of bandwidth will affect the overall quality of HD content.
Currently, it is only possible to obtain the BBC HD channel through the online, or PC-delivered, version of iPlayer.
Previous improvements to iPlayer include the addition of BBC radio stations, a children's player and mobile phone versions.