More than 3.5 million programmes were viewed on the BBC's iPlayer catch-up TV service over the Christmas period, according to the first figures released by the corporation. The research found that around 1 million people visited bbc.co.uk/iplayer between Christmas Day and January 7, and revealed that the most watched programmes on the iPlayer during this period were the Doctor Who and Extras Christmas specials. The BBC also found that that there was a significant "long tail" effect, with many users seeking out more niche interest programmes. More than half of all programmes either downloaded or streamed were placed outside of the top 50. (The Guardian)