Olympic Fever Fuels Record-Breaking Month For BBC’s iPlayer VOD Service
BBC’s iPlayer video-on-demand service had a record 200 million viewing requests in August as Olympic fever hit the nation. The iPlayer VOD service broke records for most monthly show requests, most requests per week, most users per week and most usage over mobile and tablets, the Guardian reports. Live-viewing also hit an all-time high in August, accounting for a third of the 151 million iPlayer requests to watch TV shows during the month. The opening ceremony on July 27 was the most watched with 3.9 million requests, followed by the closing ceremony on August 12 with 2.1 million.

BBC Worldwide Buys ‘Top Gear’ Company
The hosts of the original UK version of car-fanatic series Top Gear have signed on for another three years. In a deal said to be worth seven figures, Jeremy Clarkson, the face of the British driving show, and producer Andy Wilman, sold rights to the show to BBC Worldwide. BBCW had a 50% share in Bedder 6, Clarkson and Wilman’s joint venture that owned the show. They’ve now sold their half to BBCW which will look to continue to exploit the brand globally. Top Gear USA airs on History. Clarkson and hosts James May and Richard Hammond all re-upped, the BBC says.