BBC One, BBC Two Available Online

The BBC is to stream its two most popular channels BBC One and BBC Two live on the internet from next week. The live simulcast for both channels will be available from 27 November.

The BBC already shows BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies and BBC News during broadcast hours online but previously held off showing its main channels. Both popular and cult shows, including EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing, Heroes and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, will available to view live rather than via the BBC's online catch-up service, iPlayer.

Unlike with iPlayer, all shows should be available to view, not simply those the BBC has online rights to.

Director of BBC vision Jana Bennett said this "completes our commitment" to make channels available online.

"From 27 November licence fee payers will be able to watch BBC programmes live wherever they are in the UK on their computers, mobile phones and other portable devices," added Bennett.

As with the iPlayer, content with be restricted to the UK by means of establishing where you are viewing based on your IP address.

Online viewing figures double

According to media watchdog Ofcom, the number of people watching TV on the internet has doubled in the past 12 months.

In 2006, Channel 4 became the first major UK TV channel to offer TV content online although, due to copyright restrictions, the 4oD service is not Mac friendly. Users can currently use applications such as Zattoo to watch streaming content from the main UK broadcasters.

Last week BSkyB announced a new online TV service for those wishing to view their programs without a satellite dish, although for a fee yet to be established.

Back in February BBC director general Mark Thompson promised the ability to download BBC iPlayer programmes on Mac computers to view later by the end of the year.

The BBC faced strong criticism when it first introduced iPlayer because the service was Windows only. The company quickly outmanoeuvred the critics by introducing Mac support in its streaming TV service through use of Flash technology.