Broadcasting:Mobile devices are driving take-up of BBC's iPlayer service, new data has shown.

According to BBC iStats, the number of programme requests through mobile and tablet devices between January and April this year rose by 94 per cent, compared with April 2011.

Mobile viewers now account for about 15 per cent of requests to iPlayer, with smart TVs, games consoles and Blu-ray players accounting for 11 per cent.

Overall, usage of the iPlayer service is up 24 per cent year on year, with more than 140 million requests for TV programmes and 46 million for radio programmes.

The data applies to the UK, and due to privacy restrictions, does not include figures for items downloaded and watched offline.

The broadcaster released a global version of its iPlayer app for the iPad last year, which does not offer live TV or seven-day playback, providing instead a library of programmes for a monthly fee.

It is available to customers in a number of countries, including Ireland.